With regular drinkers though, the Bridge stops being able to override the Addictive Engine. ‘The pathways between the NA and the movement control areas in the brain become stronger with regular drinking,’ says Julia Lewis. ‘The response to triggers, such as sight, smell, memories, and emotions, become virtually habitual. The pathways from the PFC to the NA become weaker. This means that the poor old PFC struggles to moderate these responses.’ In other words, the Bridge has stopped steering the ship.
