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amygdala

This shows a woman in a creepy house looking scared

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 12, 2020·2 min read

How the brain responds to the sudden sound of silent danger

Study provides insight into the neural mechanisms of how prey animals use the sounds or actions of others to infer danger and respond defensively.

This shows a print out of the genetic findings from different brain regions

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·May 11, 2020·1 min read

Why some people are more prone to anxiety

Increased levels of serotonin transporters in the amygdala may explain why some people are more prone to anxiety than others.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·April 21, 2020·3 min read

How a genetic change increases the risk of schizophrenia

Chromosome 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.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 17, 2020·6 min read

A key brain region for controlling binge drinking has been found

Turning 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.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·March 13, 2020·3 min read

How associative fear memory is formed in the brain

The formation of fear memories involves the strengthening of neural pathways between the hippocampus and the 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.