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danger

·March 27, 2025·4 min read

How the Brain Learns to Reclassify Danger and Reward

The brain constantly evaluates whether stimuli are positive or negative, prompting approach or avoidance behaviors that are essential for survival. A new study reveals that two neuron types in the nucleus accumbens—D1 and D2 neurons—respond together to both rewarding and aversive stimuli, but in distinct ways.

This shows someone holding out a hand to help rescue a woman from a roof top

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·October 25, 2022·4 min read

Here’s How the Brain Works When We Choose to Help Someone in Danger

The same brain system that helps us to avoid danger is also activated during selfless, helping behaviors, allowing us to help others in danger.

This shows a woman sitting next to a white tiger

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 15, 2022·4 min read

The More Specifics People Have On Potential Dangers, the Less Fearful They Become

Detailed knowledge of probabilities can make dangerous risks seem far less risky, a new study reports.

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.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·September 12, 2018·5 min read

To Flee or Not to Flee: How the Brain Decides What to Do in the Face of Danger

Researchers have identified the variables that lead the brain to apply specific defensive strategies while under the threat of danger, and implicate a specific pair of neurons in this process.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 22, 2018·5 min read

Fright and Flight: Deciding When to Escape

Researchers have discovered a synaptic mechanism for computing escape decisions.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·March 19, 2018·5 min read

Nerve Cells That Enable Fruit Flies to Escape Danger Discovered

Researchers have identified neurons that help to initiate an escape from danger response in fruit flies.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 2, 2018·1 min read

Danger Changes How Rat Brains Store Information

According to researchers, the ability of a male rat's brain to store memory changes depending on whether the environment in which they acquire information is safe or dangerous.