1Division of Reward Deficiency Syndrome, The Kenneth Blum Behavioral and Neurogenetic Institute, Austin, TX, USA 2Division of Addiction Research and Education, Center for Sports, Exercise, and Global Health, Western University Health Sciences, Lebanon, OR, USA 3Division of Developmental Progression, Global Growth Institute, San Clemente, CA, USA 4Department of Molecular Biology and Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel 5Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont School of Medicine, Burlington, VT.,USA 6Division of Personalized Pain Mechanisms, Center for Advanced Spine Care of Southern Arizona, Tucson AZ, USA 7Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary 8International Awareness Integration Institute, San Clemente, CA, USA 9Division of Personalized Neuromodulation, Peak Logic, Del Mar, CA, USA 10Division of Neurogenetics and Behavior, Sunder Foundation, Palm Springs, CA, USA 11Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA 12Department of Health Science, California State University at long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA 13Department of Psychiatry, Tulane University, School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA 14Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA 15Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA 16Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA 17Department of Applied Clinical Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles, CA, USA 18Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern University College of Pharmacy, Houston, TX, USA 19Department of Family Medicine, Jefferson Health Northeast, Philadelphia, PA, USA 20Behavioral Neuropharmacology and Neuroimaging Laboratory, Clinical Research Institute on Addictions, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA 21Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, Riverside, CA, USA 22Department of Psychology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA 23Brain and Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Curry College, Milton, MA, USA 24Department of Orthopaedics, Fundación Universitaria Sanitas Bogotá D.C., Colombia 25Department of Surgery, University of Arizonia, School of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA 26Department of Orthopaedics, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 27Cellular and Molecular Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran 28Department of Psychiatry, Harvard University School of Medicine, Cambridge, MA., USA 29Department of General and Specialized Surgery, Gaffrée e Guinle Universitary Hospital, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Brazil 30Post-Graduate Program in Neurology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 31Department of Psychiatry, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, School of Medicine, Midland, TX, USA 32Founder Kotzker Phfarma, Yardley, PA USA
Addictions are alarmingly prevalent worldwide, leading to severe health issues, disruptive relationships, diminished productivity, and increased criminal behavior, which collectively impose substantial and tragic costs on individuals, families, and society. Addiction arises from a complex interplay of factors, including genetic predispositions, environmental triggers, and individual behavioral patterns, rendering addiction research and treatment particularly challenging. Although considerable data on the neurophysiology of addiction exists and pharmacological interventions are available, patient compliance and motivation remain crucial factors that have been relatively overlooked. Spirituality may play a significant role in fostering healing behaviors and deserves more attention in addiction treatment. Due to the unique interaction between genetic and environmental factors, healthy spirituality may come more naturally to some individuals than others. This hypothesis is supported by the literature we review, which situates spirituality within the cognitive and emotional processes of self-identity and religiosity. Evidence suggests that recovery from substance use disorders is often more successful when individuals have well-defined life goals. The brain's Default Mode Network (DMN) may be instrumental in this context. We introduce the novel concept of the Neurospirituality Connectome, which we posit as central to the understanding of reward processing. This proposed synergy between the psycho-neural substrates of cognition, emotion, and spirituality could provide a self-sustaining impetus and framework, aiding patients in navigating the complex psychophysiological landscape of addiction recovery.
Keywords: Neurospirituality Connectome; Purpose and Meaning of Life as Reward (PMLR); Genetic Addiction Risk Severity; Hypodopaminergia; Religiosity; Geneospirituality; Self-Help Groups
Kenneth Blum., et al. “Neurospirituality Connectome - Role in Neurology and Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS)”. EC Neurology 17.2 (2025): 01-25.
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