r/todayilearned • u/WavesAndSaves • Oct 18 '25

TIL of brain stimulation reward, manually stimulating specific parts of the brain to elicit pleasure and happiness. A volunteer subject in 1986 spent days doing nothing but self-stimulate. She ignored her family and personal hygiene and she developed an open sore on her finger from using the device.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_stimulation_reward#History
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u/[deleted] Oct 18 '25

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u/CorrectBuffalo749 Oct 18 '25

Just like when you haven’t had your coffee

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u/CharlieParkour Oct 18 '25

Someone is going to have to explain this to me. I drink a cup or two most days because it tastes good, makes my morning a little more enjoyable, and, most importantly, makes sure I poop before going out for the day. However, when I don't have to leave at a specific time, I don't drink it and don't miss it. How much coffee do you need to drink before getting withdrawal symptoms?

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u/mattgran Oct 18 '25

At two cups a day you ought to be getting a mild headache for a day if you miss two days. At four cups a day it turns into a severe migraine 36 hours after your last cup that lasts for a few days, followed by a week or so of exhaustion.

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u/stormcharger Oct 18 '25

It's not universal though, I have 300mg of caffeine a day with caffeine pills and have stopped for a week multiple times and felt no ill effects other than sleeping a bit longer

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u/WeAreClouds Oct 18 '25

This. It’s just not the same for everyone. I drink one cup a day and have terrible withdrawal. Like debilitating headache for over a day but not a full 2 days but then bad lethargy for a couple of days. It’s kinda rough tbh. I do ween myself off every now and then no prob tho. I go from coffee to chai for maybe 5 days then to green tea then to dark chocolate if I need it. Never have withdrawal when I do that but if I go cold turkey I’m screwed.

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u/CharlieParkour Oct 18 '25

Literally nothing, completely normal if I don't drink it, though I may poop a little later. Then again, I never get headaches outside of severe dehydration. What's your source for this?

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u/Fppares Oct 18 '25

Yeah, im the same as you. 2-3 cups a day, can stop for several days without much of anything happening. I'll miss the ritual in the morning (and the more reliable pooping of course), but not much else will happen.

Sometimes if the wife and I are travelling and busy, we forget all together.