The paper says that neural pathways in the brain, including addictive pathways, are formed in a similar way to hiking trails. The more a hiking route is used, the smoother, wider and clearer it becomes. It becomes the default, easiest route. Should you need to forge a brand new path through the forest (or form a newborn sober neural pathway), the paper points out that it will be arduous initially. ‘At first, this new path will be narrow, difficult, and slow…Over time, it will become a well-worn, comfortable path. It will be just as easy as the original path.’
