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Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·October 13, 2017·6 min read

Magic Mushrooms May ‘Reset’ Brains of Depressed Patients

A new study adds to growing evidence supporting the benefits of psychedelics to treat mental illnesses. Researchers report psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms, is effective in reducing symptoms for people with treatment resistant depression. The study reveals the compound resets the activity of a brain network associated with depression, helping to improve symptoms in patients for up to 5 weeks following treatment.

Image shows the location of the amygdala in the brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 12, 2017·4 min read

Discovery in Amygdala Sheds Light on Emotional and Social Behavior Regulation

UCLA researchers reveal the amygdala has much greater cell diversity than previously believed.

Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·October 3, 2017·5 min read

Expectations Influence Effectiveness of SSRIs

Study reveals people are three times more likely to report SSRIs are effective for their depression and anxiety when given the correct information about the medication.

Featured Genetics Psychology

·October 2, 2017·3 min read

Shared Genetics in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

According to researchers, a genetic variant changes the expression of the SNAP25 protein, impacting information processing between brain areas associated with regulating emotions. Researchers report this may increase the risk of developing schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

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·September 18, 2017·4 min read

Learning and Unlearning Fear: The Two Faces of Noradrenaline

RIKEN researchers report neurons in the locus coeruleus play a key role in emotional and flexible learning.

Image shows a brain with the amygdala highlighed.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 11, 2017·3 min read

Childhood Maltreatment May Change Brain’s Response to Threat

Researchers report people who experienced emotional abuse and neglect as children exhibited increased amygdala activity in anticipation of a mild electrical shock. The findings suggest early life stress could have an impact on the perception of distant threat.

Image shows the location of the pfc in the brain.

Featured Most Popular Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 25, 2017·5 min read

New Light on Link Between Gut Bacteria and Anxiety

Researchers discover gut microbes may influence microRNA in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, two areas of the brain associated with depression and anxiety.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 22, 2017·4 min read

Activating Brain Region Creates Intense Desire to Use Cocaine

Using optogenetics to stimulate the amygdala, researchers intensify the desire to consume cocaine in rats.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 22, 2017·5 min read

Brain Region Mediates Pleasure of Eating

Researchers have identified neurons in the amygdala that make food consumption rewarding. Activating NTR2a neurons caused mice to eat for longer periods of time.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·August 15, 2017·4 min read

Adult Brains Produce New Cells in Previously Undiscovered Area

University of Queensland researchers report they have discovered evidence of neurogenesis in the amygdala. Researchers say their findings could help develop new avenues of treatment for fear processing disorders.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·July 18, 2017·4 min read

Heavy Drinking During Adolescence Has Dire Effects on the Brain

According to a Frontiers in Psychology study, binge drinking in teens is associated with a reduction in brain areas that play key roles in memory, learning, language and attention.

Image shows a brain with the amygdala highlighted in red.

Autism Featured Genetics

·July 17, 2017·5 min read

Late Breaking Mutations May Play an Important Role in Autism

A study in Nature Neuroscience reveals mutations that occur after conception could play an important role in autism. The study reports post-zygotic mutations occur disproportionately in genes expressed in the amygdala in those on the autism spectrum.