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amygdala

This is the chemical structure of oxytocin

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·March 3, 2020·3 min read

Optimizing use of oxytocin to help those with social difficulties

Administering oxytocin via intravenous and nasal methods reduces regional blood flow to the amygdala.

This shows a child with his hands over his eyes

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·February 25, 2020·3 min read

Social anxiety could be an empathy imbalance

Taijin-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.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 24, 2020·3 min read

Generosity and selfishness: A neural dance

Unique 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.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·February 23, 2020·2 min read

Childhood trauma changes your brain, but it doesn’t have to be permanent

Female rats that experienced early life adversity developed abnormal connections between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex in response to neglect.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·February 12, 2020·5 min read

Multi-center neuroimaging study offers new insights on schizophrenia

Those with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome had significantly lower brain volume, as well as lower volumes in specific structures, including the thalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala.

This shows a lonely man on a crowded street

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·January 24, 2020·3 min read

Imbalance between serotonin and dopamine in social anxiety disorder

Study reports the balance between serotonin and dopamine may be a risk factor for a person developing social anxiety disorder.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 17, 2020·2 min read

Violence and adversity in early life can alter the brain

Exposure to violence and childhood adversity has a negative effect on the developing brain. Neuroimaging reveals adolescents who experienced adversity and violence as children had reduced connectivity between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. However, social support may act as a buffer and reduce the negative effects of early life stress.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 15, 2020·5 min read

With these neurons, extinguishing fear is its own reward

Fear extinction memories and feelings of reward are both stored in neurons that express the Ppp1r1b gene in the posterior of the basolateral amygdala.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 15, 2020·5 min read

Surprising effects of oxytocin on cocaine addiction

In men with a history of childhood trauma, oxytocin reduced the activity within the amygdala and cravings for cocaine. Women who were addicted to cocaine and had experienced childhood trauma showed an increase in amygdala activity following exposure to oxytocin.

This is a drawing of a head made up of cannabis leaves

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 13, 2020·3 min read

Study sheds light on link between cannabis, anxiety and stress

A naturally occurring molecule produced by the brain activates endocannabinoid receptors, protecting against stress by reducing anxiety-producing connections between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. The findings may help explain why people turn to marijuana when they feel anxious or stressed.