Verified by Psychology Today

Joshua Gowin Ph.D.

About

Joshua Gowin, Ph.D., currently works at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism as a postdoctoral fellow. His work explores how the genetics of pain receptors in the brain determine how alcohol affects us. In the past he worked as a postdoctoral researcher under Martin Paulus at UC San Diego. While there he used functional MRI to explore how individuals dependent on drugs process risky decisions and whether risk-processing in the brain can predict relapse likelihood. He earned his doctorate in behavioral neuroscience from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in 2011 for his work on the cycle of violence and the processes in the brain that may underlie it. He has written for Psychology Today, where he was an intern in 2009. He has also contributed to the HealthLeader, The Psychology of Dexter and The Psychology of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. In 2012, You, Illuminated was nominated for the Best in Show: Blog Award as part of the WEGO Health Activist Awards.

Books by Joshua Gowin Ph.D.
Recent Posts
What Does Marijuana Really Do to the Brain?

While perception of marijuana may be in flux, one thing hasn’t changed: its psychoactive effects. With those effects cropping up in conversation more frequently as new laws make headlines, it’s high time I found out what marijuana does to the brain.

While perception of marijuana may be in flux, one thing hasn’t changed: its psychoactive effects. With those effects cropping up in conversation more frequently as new laws make headlines, it’s high time I found out what marijuana does to the brain.

Making Learning Fun

June 20th is Summer Learning Day. I marked the occasion by speaking with Sooinn Lee, who recently gave a Ted Talk called, “When learning is painful.” Lee is the founder of LocoMotive Labs, where they have developed an iPad app, “Todo Math,” to help children from kindergarten to second grade hone their math skills.

June 20th is Summer Learning Day. I marked the occasion by speaking with Sooinn Lee, who recently gave a Ted Talk called, “When learning is painful.” Lee is the founder of LocoMotive Labs, where they have developed an iPad app, “Todo Math,” to help children from kindergarten to second grade hone their math skills.

Have We Discovered a Hidden Danger of Pornography?

Men who have watched more porn have smaller volume in the striatum, a region of the brain’s reward network. The link between striatum size and time watching porn could mean that repeated exposure dulls the reward circuitry’s response to pleasure. Or not.

Men who have watched more porn have smaller volume in the striatum, a region of the brain’s reward network. The link between striatum size and time watching porn could mean that repeated exposure dulls the reward circuitry’s response to pleasure. Or not.

School Program Dampens Threat Response, Aggression

According to a new study, experiences during childhood affect how you handle angering encounters as an adult. Previous studies have shown that high-quality care can decrease the risk for aggression, but it wasn’t clear why. Justin Carré had a hunch it might have to do with testosterone.

According to a new study, experiences during childhood affect how you handle angering encounters as an adult. Previous studies have shown that high-quality care can decrease the risk for aggression, but it wasn’t clear why. Justin Carré had a hunch it might have to do with testosterone.

How the Brain Feels Betrayed

Betrayal hurts. A recent study in the Proceedings of the Royal Society: Biological Sciences asked why; how does the brain process the possibility of betrayal? In addition to great tragedy, betrayal also makes great science.

Betrayal hurts. A recent study in the Proceedings of the Royal Society: Biological Sciences asked why; how does the brain process the possibility of betrayal? In addition to great tragedy, betrayal also makes great science.

How to Build Character

I recently had the chance to speak with filmmaker Tiffany Shlain, whose latest film, The Science of Character, reminds us that we can grow and develop character traits throughout our lives.

I recently had the chance to speak with filmmaker Tiffany Shlain, whose latest film, The Science of Character, reminds us that we can grow and develop character traits throughout our lives.