FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·February 21, 2023·5 min readMedication Targeting Brain Stress Response May Help Cardiovascular Symptoms of Alcohol WithdrawalPrazosin, an FDA-approved medication for the treatment of hypertension may help to prevent relapse in people with cardiovascular and behavioral symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, a new study reports.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·February 21, 2023·4 min readPill for Skin Disease Also Curbs Excessive DrinkingApremilast, an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of skin conditions including psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, triggers increased activity in the nucleus accumbens, a brain area associated with regulating alcohol intake. Apremilast reduced drinking behaviors in mouse models with a genetic risk of alcohol use disorder.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·February 20, 2023·4 min readKetamine Could Be Effective Treatment for Cocaine-Use DisordersThose with cocaine use disorder who were administered ketamine for depression or pain experienced two-to-four times higher remission rate.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·February 18, 2023·2 min readHow AI Can Help Design Drugs to Treat Opioid AddictionResearchers are turning to artificial intelligence to find novel drugs that can block kappa opioid receptors with the hope to alleviate opioid addiction.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·February 17, 2023·3 min readKleptomaniacs Exhibit Distinct Patterns of Gazing and Brain ActivityPeople with kleptomania, or the overwhelming impulse to commit theft or shoplift, exhibit distinct patterns of gaze and brain activity when exposed to environmental cues associated with their compulsion.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·February 16, 2023·4 min readIs the Brain Wired Differently in People With Addiction?Study reveals functional connectivity abnormalities in brain areas associated with reward processing, habit formation, and decision-making in those with substance use disorders and addiction.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·February 10, 2023·4 min readCocaine Use Disorder Alters Gene Networks of Neuroinflammation and Neurotransmission in HumansCocaine use disorder alters gene expression in the nucleus accumbens and caudate nucleus, brain areas associated with reward, and the mediation of habit formation.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·February 9, 2023·5 min readPutting the Brake on Risky BehaviorsA newly discovered neural circuit in the thalamus prevented reward-seeking behaviors when activated in a preclinical model. When blocked, this circuit increases high-risk reward-seeking behaviors. The findings could lead to new therapies for addiction and other disorders associated with high-risk reward-seeking behaviors.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·January 26, 2023·6 min readLegalizing Recreational Cannabis Does Not Increase Substance AbuseState-level legalization of recreational cannabis does not increase substance use disorder or encourage the use of other illicit drugs, a new study of twins reveals. Additionally, legalized recreational cannabis can reduce alcohol consumption.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·January 25, 2023·4 min readUsing Running to Escape Everyday Stresses May Lead To Exercise Dependence Instead of Mental Well-beingRunning can help some escape from their everyday stresses, however, some recreational runners show signs of exercise dependence. Exercise dependence could be the result of maladaptive escapism where one self-suppresses to avoid negative experiences. This can be detrimental to overall well-being.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePain·January 13, 2023·6 min readScientists Take Another Step Toward Building a Better, Safer OpioidUsing cryoEM technology, researchers have decoded the detailed structures of an entire family of opioid receptors bound to their naturally occurring peptides. This new structural framework should help in the development of safer, more effective medications to treat chronic pain.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·January 12, 2023·4 min readCommon Brain Network for Psychiatric Illness DiscoveredInvestigating four pre-existing, publically available psychological and neurological data sets, researchers identify a network of brain areas that underlie psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.Read More