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
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·December 29, 2022·4 min readAddictive Behavior Linked to Personality and PsychopathologyA new study links substance use disorder to specific personality traits and certain psychological disorders. Researchers found those who scored high for the personality trait of neuroticism and those with depression and anxiety were at greater risk of SUD.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·December 23, 2022·5 min readMusic and Ayahuasca’s Role in Treating Substance Use Disorders in MenResearchers study the positive effects icaros, a type of traditional Peruvian music, in combination with psychotherapy and the psychedelic drug Ayahuasca has on treating addiction.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·November 28, 2022·6 min readNew Study Maps the Development of the 20 Most Common Psychiatric Disorders47% of patients with a mental health disorder receive a different diagnosis within the first ten years of receiving their initial diagnosis.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·November 18, 2022·5 min readCan Pharmacotherapies Prevent Alcohol Use Disorder in People With PTSD?Those with PTSD are almost twice as likely to develop alcohol use disorder than their peers who have not experienced trauma. Researchers report drugs that block FKBP5, such as benztropine, a drug used to control symptoms of Parkinson's disease, and the experimental compound SAFit2 reduce alcohol preference and drinking in models of PTSD.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·November 17, 2022·5 min readADHD Medication for Amphetamine Addiction Linked to Reduced Risk of Hospitalization and DeathLisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), a medication commonly used to treat ADHD, lowers the risk of hospitalization and death for those with amphetamine use disorder.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·November 14, 2022·4 min readFentanyl Vaccine Potential ‘Game Changer’ for Opioid EpidemicA newly developed vaccine blocks the ability of the opioid Fentanyl's ability to enter the brain, thus blocking the drug's "high".Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·November 9, 2022·4 min readHighly Processed Foods Can Be Considered Addictive Like Tobacco ProductsBased on the criteria set for tobacco addiction, a new study reports that highly-processed foods can be addictive.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·November 3, 2022·7 min readReduced-Nicotine Cigarettes Result in Less Smoking in Anxious and Depressed SmokersLowering nicotine levels to non-addictive levels reduces smoking without worsening symptoms of depression and anxiety for those suffering from mental health disorders.Read More
