Hermina Nedelescu
@hnedeles.bsky.social
Neuroscientist, viruses, neurocircuits underlying abnormal behavior. Science-Art. Advocate.
Offenders always deny. It's a defense mechanism.
November 14, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Offenders always deny. It's a defense mechanism.
9/
Bottom line: Compulsive drug seeking and other maladaptive behavior may spring from the same distorted reward and stress circuits. Addiction research is opening a window into the biology of broader maladaptive motivation.
Bottom line: Compulsive drug seeking and other maladaptive behavior may spring from the same distorted reward and stress circuits. Addiction research is opening a window into the biology of broader maladaptive motivation.
August 21, 2025 at 12:22 AM
9/
Bottom line: Compulsive drug seeking and other maladaptive behavior may spring from the same distorted reward and stress circuits. Addiction research is opening a window into the biology of broader maladaptive motivation.
Bottom line: Compulsive drug seeking and other maladaptive behavior may spring from the same distorted reward and stress circuits. Addiction research is opening a window into the biology of broader maladaptive motivation.
8/
Next step: silence these stimulus-activated neurons (cell-type specific tools) to test causality. This could redefine treatment approaches not only for addiction but also for aggression, trauma, and anxiety disorders.
Next step: silence these stimulus-activated neurons (cell-type specific tools) to test causality. This could redefine treatment approaches not only for addiction but also for aggression, trauma, and anxiety disorders.
August 21, 2025 at 12:22 AM
8/
Next step: silence these stimulus-activated neurons (cell-type specific tools) to test causality. This could redefine treatment approaches not only for addiction but also for aggression, trauma, and anxiety disorders.
Next step: silence these stimulus-activated neurons (cell-type specific tools) to test causality. This could redefine treatment approaches not only for addiction but also for aggression, trauma, and anxiety disorders.
7/
This suggests a shared neural foundation for addiction, trauma-linked avoidance, fear learning, and/or predatory drive. The common thread? Reward circuits hijacked by emotionally salient cues. Reward dysregulation.
This suggests a shared neural foundation for addiction, trauma-linked avoidance, fear learning, and/or predatory drive. The common thread? Reward circuits hijacked by emotionally salient cues. Reward dysregulation.
August 21, 2025 at 12:22 AM
7/
This suggests a shared neural foundation for addiction, trauma-linked avoidance, fear learning, and/or predatory drive. The common thread? Reward circuits hijacked by emotionally salient cues. Reward dysregulation.
This suggests a shared neural foundation for addiction, trauma-linked avoidance, fear learning, and/or predatory drive. The common thread? Reward circuits hijacked by emotionally salient cues. Reward dysregulation.
6/
👉 The same brain circuits that encode withdrawal relief and compulsive seeking may also intensify aggression and/or pursuit — transforming adaptive survival systems into maladaptive predation. Additional, studies are needed to confirm this point.
👉 The same brain circuits that encode withdrawal relief and compulsive seeking may also intensify aggression and/or pursuit — transforming adaptive survival systems into maladaptive predation. Additional, studies are needed to confirm this point.
August 21, 2025 at 12:22 AM
6/
👉 The same brain circuits that encode withdrawal relief and compulsive seeking may also intensify aggression and/or pursuit — transforming adaptive survival systems into maladaptive predation. Additional, studies are needed to confirm this point.
👉 The same brain circuits that encode withdrawal relief and compulsive seeking may also intensify aggression and/or pursuit — transforming adaptive survival systems into maladaptive predation. Additional, studies are needed to confirm this point.
5/
That includes systems regulating:
Fear-conditioning
Anxiety disorders
Traumatic avoidance learning
…and possibly predatory behavior
That includes systems regulating:
Fear-conditioning
Anxiety disorders
Traumatic avoidance learning
…and possibly predatory behavior
August 21, 2025 at 12:22 AM
5/
That includes systems regulating:
Fear-conditioning
Anxiety disorders
Traumatic avoidance learning
…and possibly predatory behavior
That includes systems regulating:
Fear-conditioning
Anxiety disorders
Traumatic avoidance learning
…and possibly predatory behavior
4/
Why does this matter? Because these neurons don’t just mediate drug seeking. They likely underlie other maladaptive behaviors where emotionally salient cues may override rational control.
Why does this matter? Because these neurons don’t just mediate drug seeking. They likely underlie other maladaptive behaviors where emotionally salient cues may override rational control.
August 21, 2025 at 12:22 AM
4/
Why does this matter? Because these neurons don’t just mediate drug seeking. They likely underlie other maladaptive behaviors where emotionally salient cues may override rational control.
Why does this matter? Because these neurons don’t just mediate drug seeking. They likely underlie other maladaptive behaviors where emotionally salient cues may override rational control.
3/
This supports a broader framework: hedonic allostasis.
When repeated drug use shifts the brain below normal hedonic homeostasis, the PVT and its partners elicit a state where relief from dysphoria becomes the main motivator — not pleasure.
This supports a broader framework: hedonic allostasis.
When repeated drug use shifts the brain below normal hedonic homeostasis, the PVT and its partners elicit a state where relief from dysphoria becomes the main motivator — not pleasure.
August 21, 2025 at 12:22 AM
3/
This supports a broader framework: hedonic allostasis.
When repeated drug use shifts the brain below normal hedonic homeostasis, the PVT and its partners elicit a state where relief from dysphoria becomes the main motivator — not pleasure.
This supports a broader framework: hedonic allostasis.
When repeated drug use shifts the brain below normal hedonic homeostasis, the PVT and its partners elicit a state where relief from dysphoria becomes the main motivator — not pleasure.
2/
🔑 Findings:
PVT → negative reinforcement learning (& possibly hedonic allostasis)
DS → habit formation with dependence
CeA → stress memories tied to withdrawal contexts
Together, these circuits encode the compulsive drive to seek alcohol despite punishment or cost.
🔑 Findings:
PVT → negative reinforcement learning (& possibly hedonic allostasis)
DS → habit formation with dependence
CeA → stress memories tied to withdrawal contexts
Together, these circuits encode the compulsive drive to seek alcohol despite punishment or cost.
August 21, 2025 at 12:22 AM
2/
🔑 Findings:
PVT → negative reinforcement learning (& possibly hedonic allostasis)
DS → habit formation with dependence
CeA → stress memories tied to withdrawal contexts
Together, these circuits encode the compulsive drive to seek alcohol despite punishment or cost.
🔑 Findings:
PVT → negative reinforcement learning (& possibly hedonic allostasis)
DS → habit formation with dependence
CeA → stress memories tied to withdrawal contexts
Together, these circuits encode the compulsive drive to seek alcohol despite punishment or cost.
There's no greater hate than "Christian love". Christianity seems to be getting out of control ridiculous. I helped one during the pandemic to educate their "God keeps me safe against a virus in church" and the pervert assaulted me talking about some love bullshit. I responded with a police report.
July 9, 2025 at 4:24 AM
There's no greater hate than "Christian love". Christianity seems to be getting out of control ridiculous. I helped one during the pandemic to educate their "God keeps me safe against a virus in church" and the pervert assaulted me talking about some love bullshit. I responded with a police report.