dopamine

This shows a monkey at a computer screen

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 6, 2020

Dopamine Neurons Mull Over Your Options

Dopamine neurons in the brain regulate internal processes of economic decision making, evaluating available options, and identifying the most preferable outcome. Read More

Featured Neuroscience

·June 2, 2020

Estrogen’s role in the sex differences of alcohol abuse

Estrogen level fluctuations appear to play a role in alcohol use disorder in women. Reducing the number of estrogen receptors in the ventral tegmental area decreased binge drinking behaviors in female mouse models. Read More

This is a graphic abstract from the study

Featured Neuroscience

·June 2, 2020

Some people are easily addicted to drugs, but others are not

Dopamine D2 receptor overexpression in cholinergic interneurons of the nucleus accumbens may explain why some are more prone to cocaine addiction than others. Read More

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·June 1, 2020

How ketamine combats depression

Ketamine increases the number of serotonin 1B receptors. Ketamine binds to serotonin 1B receptors, reducing the release of serotonin and increasing the release of dopamine. Read More

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·May 22, 2020

Wired for marriage: The neural and genetic links to romantic love

Researchers have identified both genetic and neural mechanisms associated with romantic love and attachment. The maintenance of romantic love is not only associated with subcortical brain regions but also higher-order centers of the brain. The propensity to sustain romantic love appears to also be affected by genetic variability, specifically with genes associated with dopamine, vasopressin, and oxytocin. Read More

This shows different d2rs in the striatum

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 13, 2020

Significant differences exist among neurons expressing dopamine receptors

Dopamine receptors have different molecular features and functions depending on their anatomical location within the striatum. The findings could help develop better-targeted treatments for a range of disorders from schizophrenia to Parkinson's disease. Read More

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Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·May 1, 2020

Parkinson’s dyskinesia mechanism explained

Involuntary movements and tremors caused as a result of taking dopamine replacement medications for Parkinson's disease can be alleviated through the suppression of RasGRP1. Read More

Brain Cancer Featured Neurology Neuroscience Psychology

·May 1, 2020

Schizophrenia drug combined with radiation shows promise in treating deadly brain tumors

Trifluoperazine, a dopamine receptor antagonist commonly prescribed for schizophrenia, used in combination with radiation therapy delays the growth of glioblastoma brain tumors and prolongs survival for brain cancer. Read More

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 20, 2020

Further evidence autoimmunity plays a role in Parkinson’s disease

T cells that react to alpha-synuclein are most abundant in the early stages of Parkinson's disease but tend to disappear as the disease progresses. Signs of autoimmunity can appear in Parkinson's patients up to ten years before a diagnosis of the neurodegenerative disease. The detection of T cell response could be an early biomarker for Parkinson's, long before the physical symptoms begin to manifest. Read More

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 9, 2020

Novel role for dopamine that impacts gene expression related to cocaine abuse discovered

Reducing H3Q5dop in rat models of cocaine withdrawal significantly reversed cocaine mediated gene expression changes and reduced cocaine-seeking behaviors. Read More

This shows a sugar outlined spoon and fork

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 9, 2020

The science of how diet can change the way sugar tastes

Taste perception appears to be controlled by dopamine in fruit fly models. Tracing the neural pathway, researchers found the same pathways were associated with controlling learning and memory. The network also appears to enhance taste sensations. Researchers also discovered eating lots of sugar suppresses sweet taste perception. Read More