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·November 18, 2019·3 min read

Adolescent drinking increases anxiety and alcohol abuse risk later in life

Teenage binge drinking is linked to altered gene expression in the brain, specifically the central nucleus of the amygdala. Adolescent rats exposed to alcohol had increased levels of miR-137, resulting in lower expression of proteins essential for healthy neuron growth. During adulthood, these rats displayed higher levels of anxiety and an increased preference for alcohol consumption.

This shows neurons in the central amygdala

Featured Neuroscience

·April 25, 2019·4 min read

Comfort food leads to more weight gain during stress

A combination of chronic stress and high-calorie diets raised insulin levels tenfold in the amygdala of mice. Prolonged high levels of insulin in the central amygdala resulted in neurons becoming desensitized to insulin. The desensitized neurons boosted NPY levels, which promoted eating and reduced the normal homeostasis response to burn calories. The findings may shed light on why some indulge in high-calorie foods when stressed, and why this may lead to obesity.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 24, 2019·5 min read

The neurobiology of noshing: Why is it so easy to overeat calorie-rich tasty foods?

Prepronociceptin expressing neurons in the central amygdala become activated by consuming palatable foods. Reducing nociceptin making neurons in mice reduced binge eating when the animals had access to calorie-rich foods, without affecting the intake of ordinary dietary needs. The finding could help in the development of new therapies to combat obesity and binge eating.

This shows the chemical structure of oxytocin

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·April 16, 2019·3 min read

Oxytocin could help treat alcohol use disorder: Rat Study

Administering oxytocin blocks the enhanced motivation for drinking alcohol that fuels alcohol use disorder by blocking GABA signaling in the central nucleus of the amygdala.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·March 18, 2019·5 min read

Scientists hunt down the brain circuit responsible for alcohol cravings

Optogenetic inactivation of CRF neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala decreases escalation of alcohol consumption and intensity of withdrawal in rodent models of alcoholism. The findings suggest a potential target for treating excessive drinking in alcohol use disorder.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·November 15, 2018·4 min read

Neuroimaging Study Challenges Dominant Theoretical Model of ASD

A new study reports short distance connectivity abnormalities may be involved in social cognitive deficits in those with ASD.

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.

Image shows the location of the amygdala in the brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 12, 2017·4 min read

Surprising Brain Change Appears to Drive Alcohol Dependence

According to a new study, alcohol increases neural activity in the central amygdala.

Image shows a the BLA in the human brain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 23, 2017·5 min read

Brain Circuit That Drives Pleasure Inducing Behavior Identified

Neurons in an area of the brain commonly associated with fear drive pleasure seeking behaviors, a new study reports.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·January 12, 2017·4 min read

Switching on the Predatory Kill Instinct in Mice

Using optogenetics to stimulate neurons in the central amygdala, researchers turn on predatory hunting motivation in mice.

Diagram shows how a stroke affects the brain.

Featured Neurology

·February 15, 2016·5 min read

Stenting Older Patients May Increase Stroke Risk

Researchers reports vascular surgery seems to be safer than stenting for people over 70 with carotid stenosis.

Amygdala is shown and the image is explained well in the caption

Featured Neuroscience

·January 28, 2013·4 min read

Neuroscientists Pinpoint Location of Fear Memory in Amygdala

Researchers examine the how fear responses are learned, controlled, and memorized. They show that a particular class of neurons in a subdivision of the amygdala plays an active role in these processes.