Does addiction result from the brain or behaviour? This is the question we sought to answer during Brain Awareness Week 2026 at a compelling free public lecture.
At the State Library of Queensland, an audience of almost 200 community members joined us to explore one of the most complex and often misunderstood areas of neuroscience: addiction.
Leading researchers from QBI and UQ’s School of Psychology, and a Queenslander with lived experience of addiction, unpacked the science behind the brain’s reward system, how it is altered through addiction, and what this can look like in real life.
The panel was expertly chaired by author and linguist UQ Emeritus Professor Roland (Roly) Sussex OAM. The panel included QBI neuroscientists Associate Professor Susannah Tye and Dr James Kesby, alongside Professor Leanne Hides, Director of the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence on Meaningful Outcomes in Substance Use Treatment, and Queensland Health's Manager of Lived Experience Craig Worland, who brought to the conversation the double perspective of the lived experience of addiction, and how to find and successfully follow the off-ramp.
Throughout the evening, complex neuroscience was made accessible through relatable analogies and real-world insights. The discussion deepened understanding of the science of addiction and highlighted practical pathways for treatment and recovery, reinforcing the importance of integrating research with lived experience.
Addiction is deeply embedded in its social and psychological context, and UQ research is helping to reveal how this works, and how people with addiction can find support to choose a different path.
Attendees were guided through the neurological changes that occur over time, and presented their own questions on addiction science and recovery to the panel during a live Q&A. While there were too many questions to answer on the night, this community interest will no doubt spark further conversations and inspire new research questions.
Learn more about the science of addiction here. If you missed the event, watch the recording below:
If you would like to support QBI’s research, please visit our Give page or consider attending the upcoming QBI Brain Research Endowment Fund Dinner.
