In this lesson, students explore four categories of neuroscience research—specifically, four approaches that are helping to understand drug addiction—basic biological research, population-based research, behavioral research, and genetic research.

Students analyze and sort a variety of research studies that have been conducted into these four main categories. Students see how research has played an important role in understanding substance use, abuse, and addiction. To engage students in discussion, facts about each research study are presented. Students use these facts to develop an understanding of how the knowledge gained from scientific research is used in clinical practice to help people with addiction. Students begin to understand how a research project is designed and how the results can affect all of us