Fruit flies may use dopamine to learn in similar ways to humans. Read More
The VGLUT protein is more abundant in the dopamine neurons of female fruit flies, rodents, and humans than in males. The finding shed light on why females have greater resilience to age-related dopamine neuron loss and disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Read More
Viewing a subliminal image of their own faces, participants showed an increase in activity in the dopamine reward pathway in the brain. Findings shed new light on the underlying neural processes of self facial recognition. Read More
Researchers have identified novel neurocircuitry between midbrain structures which are modulated by leptin to control eating behaviors in mice. Read More
Dopamine neurons largely rely on their own discharge to determine release rates of the hormone, researchers report. Read More
A recent study found 42% of participants gained, on average, 29 lb of unwanted weight during the pandemic, with people gaining 1.5lb per month. Researchers say a combination of stress, hormones, and dwindling motivation to exercise during the lockdowns may be to blame. Read More
Mouse study reveals elevated dopamine levels preceded hallucination-like events, and artificially boosting dopamine levels induced more hallucination-like events. The behavioral effects could be blocked by administering haloperidol, an antipsychotic which blocks dopamine. The study sheds light on potential new treatments for psychotic disorders marked by hallucinations. Read More
Study identifies genes that become activated in the brain prior to the initiation of severe repetitive behaviors associated with addiction, ASD, and schizophrenia. Read More
PINK1, a gene associated with Parkinson's disease, is not just responsible for the premature death of dopaminergic neurons, it also plays a key role in the neurogenesis of dopamine neurons throughout life. Read More
Dopamine neurons in the midbrain become active in a previously undetected way when an animal considers a reward that is changing in value. Read More
Focusing attention on a neural pathway starting at the periaqueductal grey region of the midbrain, researchers made a novel discovery about how dopamine generates different pain responses in male and female mice. Findings indicate dopamine may reduce pain sensitivity in males, whereas, in females, dopamine helps focus attention elsewhere in the presence of pain. Read More
When the ventral tegmental area was stimulated, monkeys were better able to identify details associated with subconscious visual stimuli they were exposed to. Read More
