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M.I.T. Explains Why Bad Habits Are Hard to Break

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the also-because-vices-are-fun dept.

Ant writes "CNET News.com says habitual activity (e.g., smoking, eating fatty foods, gambling, etc.) changes neural activity patterns in a specific region of the brain when habits are formed. These neural patterns created by habit can be changed or altered. But when a stimulus from the old days returns, the dormant pattern can reassert itself, according to a new study from the M.I.T., putting an individual in a neural state akin to being on autopilot... The neural patterns get established in the basal ganglia, a brain region critical to habits, addiction and procedural learning."

6 of 231 comments (clear)

  1. Sin is in! by dada21 · · Score: 5, Funny

    A day is lacking without the 7 S's:

    1. Shower
    2. Seminate (Sex or self)
    3. Smoke
    4. Shave
    5. Starbucks
    6. Shit
    7. Slashdot

    Note that the primes are all habits. Now permanently locked in my brain.

  2. What we already knew by ReverendLoki · · Score: 5, Informative
    Hell, any former smoker could tell you this much. I smoked for less than a decade, and I quit over 5 years ago, no relapses. However, sometimes an almost reflex gets triggered by the smell of tobacco, or just seeing a cigarrette, and it's like my arm itches to go through the motions, what I've seen described as a "ritual" of sorts, of lighting a smoke. This all occurs in my mind a split second before the conscious mind kicks in and realizes what is occurring, and takes control again.

    Trust me, this is a very accurate description of how some of these habits ingrain themselves into your mind.

    --
    09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
  3. WooHoo!!! by lucabrasi999 · · Score: 5, Funny
    smoking, eating fatty foods, gambling, etc.

    Drinking isn't on that list. I guess I don't have any bad habits!

  4. Re:I can stop anytime... by jonthegm · · Score: 5, Funny
    See, this is why I like a little variety in my addictions: alcohol for a couple weeks, smoking the next, Starcraft after that, keeps me from getting pinned down to a single addiction for very long.
    Dude, I think that's ADHD.
  5. Vista is great! by CDPatten · · Score: 5, Funny

    This probably explains why you were about to flame me when you saw the title. Its just habbit, anything pro-ms, FLAME!

  6. Re:mystery solved, I hope this isn't hopeless by yali · · Score: 5, Informative
    On a behavioral level, this finding is nothing new. Hermann Ebbinghaus introduced the idea of savings in relearning in the 19th century. This finding has been replicated countless different ways, including being replicated in neural network simulations.

    Nor is it news that this involves neurons. Hint to cnet: all of mental life involves neurons.

    What's scientifically interesting is which neurons are involved. The researchers are trying to map out the circuits involved in order to better understand the underlying process. That is at least potentially interesting.

    My followup question is, is it possible to break these patterns, ever? Or are we destined for eternity to be creatures of our own habits? Should we stop buying self-help books?

    One way to break an association is to develop a competing association. If Stimulus A triggers Response B, then you develop a new association between Stimulus A with Response C. That makes it harder to fall victim to the savings-in-relearning effect when you're faced with Stimulus A in the future, because you won't just be left hanging to try to suppress your impulse to respond with B.

    And yes, you should stop buying self-help books.