FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·May 29, 2020Age, sex and smoking influence opioid receptor function in the brainAge, sex, and gender influence the organization of the brain's opioid system. Findings shed light on why there are significant differences between the opioid system on an individual level, and why some are more prone to developing opioid-linked pathologies than others. Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeurosciencepain·May 18, 2020Scientists find brain center that ‘profoundly’ shuts down painResearchers identified a distinct population of GABAergic neurons activated by general anesthetic in the central amygdala of mice. The findings point to central amygdala GABAergic neurons as a potential therapeutic target to alleviate chronic pain. Read More
auditory neuroscienceFeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·May 12, 2020How the brain responds to the sudden sound of silent dangerStudy provides insight into the neural mechanisms of how prey animals use the sounds or actions of others to infer danger and respond defensively. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurosciencePsychology·May 11, 2020Why some people are more prone to anxietyIncreased levels of serotonin transporters in the amygdala may explain why some people are more prone to anxiety than others. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·April 21, 2020How a genetic change increases the risk of schizophreniaChromosome 16p11.2 duplication impacts several different inhibitory neuron types that use GABA in brain areas that are dysfunctional in schizophrenia, including the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. The chromosome 16p11.2 duplication also resulted in cognitive and social deficits that are symptomatic of schizophrenia. Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·April 17, 2020A key brain region for controlling binge drinking has been foundTurning off kappa opioid receptors in the brain decreases the urge the binge drink. Findings suggest the kappa opioid receptor system is important not only for the negative state of withdrawal but also for driving binge drinking behaviors. Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·March 13, 2020How associative fear memory is formed in the brainThe formation of fear memories involves the strengthening of neural pathways between the hippocampus and the amygdala. Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·March 3, 2020Optimizing use of oxytocin to help those with social difficultiesAdministering oxytocin via intravenous and nasal methods reduces regional blood flow to the amygdala. Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·February 25, 2020Social anxiety could be an empathy imbalanceTaijin-kyofusho, a form of social anxiety disorder characterized by a fear of causing others discomfort as a result of the sufferer's behavioral reactions, is linked to hypersensitivity of the emotional states of others and an inability to identify emotional context. Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·February 24, 2020Generosity and selfishness: A neural danceUnique signatures of neural synchrony reflect whether pro-social or anti-social decisions are made. Brain regions, including the cingulate gyrus, amygdala, and medial prefrontal cortex, are highly synchronized when pro-social behavior is exhibited but decreases in the presence of anti-social behavior. Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·February 23, 2020Childhood trauma changes your brain, but it doesn’t have to be permanentFemale rats that experienced early life adversity developed abnormal connections between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex in response to neglect. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurosciencePsychology·February 12, 2020Multi-center neuroimaging study offers new insights on schizophreniaThose with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome had significantly lower brain volume, as well as lower volumes in specific structures, including the thalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala. Read More
