Season 2 · Episode 395
Brain on Fire: The Science of the Kindling Effect
Why does alcohol withdrawal get more dangerous every time? Explore the "kindling effect" and how the brain learns to become hyper-excitable.
My Weird Prompts · Daniel Rosehill
January 31, 202626m 1s
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (dts.podtrac.com) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
In this deep dive into addiction neuroscience, Herman and Corn explore the harrowing neurological phenomenon known as the kindling effect. They explain why successive bouts of alcohol withdrawal become increasingly severe, transforming from mild tremors into life-threatening emergencies. The discussion breaks down the delicate balance between GABA and glutamate, the role of "excitotoxicity" in damaging neurons, and the fascinating history of how researchers discovered that the brain can essentially "learn" how to have a seizure. From Graham Goddard’s early experiments to cutting-edge 2025 studies on the cerebellum’s role in recovery, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the permanent structural changes caused by chronic alcohol use and the hopeful new medical pathways being developed to manage the damage.