Researchers uncovered how shifting levels of a brain protein called KCC2 can reshape the way cues become linked with rewards, sometimes making habits form more quickly or more powerfully than expected. When this protein drops, dopamine neurons fire more intensely, strengthening new associations in w ays that resemble how addictive behaviors take hold. Rat studies showed that even brief, synchronized bursts of neural activity can amplify reward learning, offering insight into why everyday triggers, like a morning routine, can provoke strong cravings. ...read more read less