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Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·December 15, 2022·5 min read

New Support for the Notion of a Serotonin Deficit in Depression

Recent studies have suggested there is not enough evidence to support the serotonin hypothesis for depression. However, a new study shows direct evidence of disrupted serotonin release in the brains of those with depression.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·May 10, 2021·5 min read

Serotonin Transporters Increase When Depression Fades

Neuroimaging revealed serotonin transporter levels increased in people who were in recovery from depression following cognitive behavioral therapy.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·September 9, 2020·4 min read

Imagery Reveals Autism-Related Brain Differences

People on the autism spectrum have lower levels of a protein that regulates serotonin in the brain.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·September 2, 2020·6 min read

Guilt by Dissociation: The Role of Serotonin in Autism

SERT Ala56 impacts the structure of the SERT protein cells, increasing the activity of the transporter to abnormally high levels. The high-activity state results in the removal of too much serotonin from brain sites where serotonin is needed, both during development and in adults.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 7, 2020·4 min read

How serotonin balances communication within the brain

Study reveals how serotonin plays a key role in the scaling of current sensory input and outgoing brain signals.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 6, 2019·5 min read

How serotonin and a popular anti-depressant affect the gut’s microbiota

Serotonin and SSRIs like Prozac can have a major effect on gut bacteria. When exposed to serotonin, specific gut bacteria grew to higher levels. However, when exposed to SSRIs, the bacterium grew to much lower levels in mouse models.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·June 24, 2019·5 min read

Settling the debate on serotonin’s role in sleep

Serotonin produced by the raphe is critical for sleep in both mice and zebrafish. The firing of neurons in the raphe and the release of serotonin may help the brain build up better sleep pressure. The results may explain why some sleep-related side effects of antidepressants increase serotonin in the brain.

This is a computerized reconstruction of a serotonin molecule

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience Psychology

·June 19, 2019·3 min read

Serotonin linked to somatic awareness, a condition long thought to be imaginary

Somatic awareness, a condition previously believed to be of psychological origin, is connected to a common genetic variant. The mutation leads to the malfunctioning of an enzyme critical for serotonin production.

This shows a diagram of how the drug works

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 3, 2019·3 min read

Diabetes drug alleviates anxiety in mice

Metformin, a common diabetes medication, shows promise for the treatment of anxiety and depression.

This shows a person holding his tummy as if in pain

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·May 7, 2019·7 min read

Study explains why a moody gut often accompanies depression

Mice with a genetic mutation linked to severe depression had impaired ability for neurons in the gut and brain to create serotonin. The reduction of serotonin in the gut led to a deterioration in the gut's lining, slowing the movement of contents through the GI tract and resulting in constipation. However, treatment with 5-HTP increased neurogenesis in the gut, restoring normal function.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·April 30, 2019·4 min read

Possible link between autism and antidepressants use during pregnancy: Mouse Study

A new study in mice reveals a possible link between the use of SSRI antidepressants during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism-like symptoms in offspring. Offspring exposed to fluoxetine (Prozac) in utero were more likely to exhibit impaired neurotransmission caused by an overactive serotonin receptor in the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain implicated in modulating social behaviors. However, treating the mice with a compound that blocks the receptor alleviated the behavioral problems and improved working memory.

This shows a model of the melotonin receptors

Featured Neuroscience

·April 24, 2019·7 min read

A good night’s sleep may be in sight: New 3D models of melatonin receptors shed light on sleep disorders

Researchers have created new 3D maps of two melatonin receptors. The models can be used to help develop new treatments that not only improve sleep, but may also treat a variety of other conditions from diabetes to cancer.

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