IU scientist to probe why some people take risks

An IU scientist has been awarded $683,000 in federal stimulus funds to study why some people engage in risky behavior such as drug-taking and unprotected sex.

IU neuroscientist Joshua Brown's research has already found that certain parts of the brain that help people avoid risky behavior are inactive in people with substance abuse problems.

He says those individuals look for pleasure regardless of the risks involved.

Brown will use his two-year grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to probe how the brain learns to predict moment-by-moment the possible consequences of behavior.

He says he hopes his research can someday lead to better treatments for substance abuse.