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Addiction · Compulsive seeking when reward prediction and control circuits tip.

Reviewed 2026-08·Sources & research·Media credits

Santiago Ramón y Cajal
AddictionOriginal photo is anonymous although published by Clark University in 1899. Restoration by Garrondo · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

People who shaped how we talk about Addiction.

Eight voices span anatomy, clinic, computation and culture.

People

01 Santiago Ramón y Cajal

Santiago Ramón y Cajal

1852–1934 · Spain

Neuron doctrine

Santiago Ramón y Cajal shaped discourse on reward learning gone sticky relevant to Addiction.

02 Rita Levi-Montalcini

Rita Levi-Montalcini

1909–2012 · Italy

Nerve growth factor

Rita Levi-Montalcini shaped discourse on reward learning gone sticky relevant to Addiction.

03

John O'Keefe

b. 1939 · US/UK

Place cells

John O'Keefe shaped discourse on reward learning gone sticky relevant to Addiction.

04 Eric Kandel

Eric Kandel

b. 1929 · Austria/US

Cellular learning

Eric Kandel shaped discourse on reward learning gone sticky relevant to Addiction.

05 Wilder Penfield

Wilder Penfield

1891–1976 · Canada

Cortical maps

Wilder Penfield shaped discourse on reward learning gone sticky relevant to Addiction.

06 David Hubel

David Hubel

1926–2013 · Canada/US

Visual columns

David Hubel shaped discourse on reward learning gone sticky relevant to Addiction.

07

May-Britt Moser

b. 1963 · Norway

Grid cells

May-Britt Moser shaped discourse on reward learning gone sticky relevant to Addiction.

08

Edvard Moser

b. 1962 · Norway

Grid cells

Edvard Moser shaped discourse on reward learning gone sticky relevant to Addiction.

Portraits resolve via Wikimedia when Commons licences allow.

Sources & research

  1. Neural systems of reinforcement for drug addictionEveritt BJ; Robbins TW · 2005 · Nature NeuroscienceDOIPubMed
  2. The neural basis of addictionKoob GF; Volkow ND · 2010 · NeuropsychopharmacologyDOIPubMed
  3. Addiction as a brain disease revisedHeilig M; et al. · 2021 · NeuropsychopharmacologyDOIPubMed

Media credits

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