Addiction journal
Addiction journal
How cognition and decision-making processes shape behaviour with Justin Mahlberg
How cognition and decision-making processes shape behaviour with Justin Mahlberg
How cognition and decision-making processes shape behaviour with Justin Mahlberg
Friday 16th January 2026
Explore how cognition affects behaviour in methamphetamine use disorder with Dr Justin Mahlberg's research insights.
21 minutes
Informative
Educational
Eye-opening
Engaging
Honest
About this podcast
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Addiction journal
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Categories:
Navigating Alcohol Dependency
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Family Recovery from Addiction
Nutritional Pathways to Recovery
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Get the buttons here!Cognition and Behaviour: Insights from Methamphetamine Research
Episode Overview
- Methamphetamine use disorder affects basic social cognition processes.
- Individuals show reduced sensitivity to positive emotions.
- Pro-social decision-making is often compromised.
- Anti-social tendencies are more prevalent.
- Understanding these processes can inform treatment approaches.
"Participants with methamphetamine use disorder were less sensitive to happy emotions."
Curious about how cognition influences behaviour in addiction? This episode of Addiction Audio brings you a fascinating conversation with Dr Justin Mahlberg, a Research Fellow at Monash University. Dr Mahlberg shares insights from his recent study on social cognition and decision-making in individuals with methamphetamine use disorder. He discusses how methamphetamine impacts basic cognitive processes like emotion recognition and empathy, shedding light on the challenges faced by those with the disorder.
Through engaging experiments, Dr Mahlberg explores both pro-social and anti-social decision-making, using innovative computer games to assess behaviours such as trust and aggression. His findings reveal that individuals with methamphetamine use disorder often struggle with recognising positive emotions and exhibit less pro-social behaviour compared to their peers. Dr Mahlberg also touches on the broader implications of these cognitive changes, including their potential impact on treatment outcomes and the importance of considering social cognition in recovery programmes.
As he acknowledges his colleagues and participants, Dr Mahlberg's gratitude highlights the collaborative effort behind this crucial research. Whether you're a researcher, clinician, or someone interested in addiction recovery, this episode offers a unique perspective on the cognitive challenges associated with methamphetamine use. Could understanding these processes lead to better support and treatment options? Tune in to find out.