Latest

addiction

This shows a drawing of a child and a heart shaped balloon blowing away

·September 9, 2020·5 min read

People Who Were Children When Their Parents Divorced Have Less Oxytocin

Levels of oxytocin were substantially lower in adults who experienced parental divorce as children compared to those whose families remained together.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 3, 2020·4 min read

Moderate Cannabis Use Impacts Cognitive Functioning

Sibling study reveals moderate cannabis use during adolescence has adverse effects on cognitive function that cannot be explained by genetics or other environmental factors.

This is a cartoon drawing of someone handing another person a bottle of wine

Featured Psychology

·August 22, 2020·5 min read

Your In-Laws’ History of Drinking Problems Could Lead to Alcohol Issues of Your Own

Study reveals a previously unrecognized family connection to alcohol use disorder, the drinking habits of a person's in-laws. People married to those who experienced parental alcohol misuse as a child are more likely to develop an addiction to alcohol, even if the spouse has no history of a personal battle with alcohol use.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·August 21, 2020·3 min read

Nicotine Withdrawal in Zebrafish Offers Clues to Human Addiction

The way zebrafish respond to repeated exposure and withdrawal from nicotine mirrors more complex human responses during withdrawal.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 23, 2020·4 min read

Mysterious Brain Structure Sheds Light on Addiction

A new study reveals the role the claustrum plays in cocaine addiction. Inhibiting claustral neurons prevented behavioral responses to cocaine in mouse models of addiction.

Featured Psychology

·July 22, 2020·4 min read

Sweet Coolers a Gateway to Increased Alcohol Consumption

Alcoholic coolers that contain 10% alcohol and 25% high-fructose corn syrup increase the risk of problem drinking, a new study reports.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 21, 2020·3 min read

The Immune System Facilitates Alcohol Addiction

A new study reveals the role microglia plays in alcohol addiction, finding the immune cells alter the geometry of gray matter while under the influence of alcohol.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 13, 2020·3 min read

Rats’ Brain Activity Reveals Their Alcohol Preference

Study reveals the role the orbitofrontal cortex plays in individual differences to alcohol preference. The findings shed new light on how some are more prone to alcohol use disorder than others.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 17, 2020·4 min read

Scientists gain detailed images of how a protein that calms brain activity works

Cryo-electron microscopy captures detailed snapshots of the GABAB receptor protein contorts as it interacts with GABA.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 2, 2020·3 min read

Estrogen’s role in the sex differences of alcohol abuse

Estrogen level fluctuations appear to play a role in alcohol use disorder in women. Reducing the number of estrogen receptors in the ventral tegmental area decreased binge drinking behaviors in female mouse models.

This is a graphic abstract from the study

Featured Neuroscience

·June 2, 2020·3 min read

Some people are easily addicted to drugs, but others are not

Dopamine D2 receptor overexpression in cholinergic interneurons of the nucleus accumbens may explain why some are more prone to cocaine addiction than others.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 25, 2020·2 min read

Problems with alcohol? 29 gene variants may explain why

Researchers have identified 29 genetic variants linked to problematic alcohol use. Nineteen of the genes were previously unknown independent risk factors for alcohol use disorder.