Latest

dopamine

·January 17, 2024·5 min read

COVID-19 May Infect Dopamine Neurons

A new study reveals that SARS-CoV-2 can infect dopamine neurons, potentially linking to long COVID symptoms like brain fog and depression. The research shows that these neurons enter a state of senescence, ceasing to function and causing inflammation. This discovery was unexpected, as the study initially aimed to understand how different cell types respond to the virus, but found this unique pathway only in dopamine neurons.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 12, 2024·4 min read

Love’s Chemistry: How Dopamine Shapes Bonds and Breakups

Researchers uncover how dopamine, a key neurotransmitter, varies in response to social interactions, distinguishing between intimate and casual relationships. Their research, conducted on prairie voles, sheds light on the neurochemical dynamics of pair bonding and grief.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 14, 2023·5 min read

How Dopamine Deciphers Learning in the Brain

Researchers made a significant breakthrough in understanding how the brain assigns credit to specific actions leading to rewards. Their study used a novel "closed loop" system with mice to explore how dopamine, a crucial neurotransmitter, shapes learning through trial and error.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·December 5, 2023·5 min read

Dopaminergic System Organoid Model Illuminates Parkinson’s and Addiction

Researchers developed a novel organoid model that mimics the human dopaminergic system, providing crucial insights into Parkinson's disease and the impact of chronic cocaine use. This study demonstrates the model's ability to replicate the structure, connectivity, and functionality of the dopaminergic system.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 1, 2023·5 min read

Dopamine’s Role in Learning from Rewards and Penalties

Dopamine, a neurotransmitter, plays a vital role in encoding both reward and punishment prediction errors in the human brain. This study suggests that dopamine is essential for learning from both positive and negative experiences, enabling the brain to adapt behavior based on outcomes.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 2, 2023·7 min read

Sleepless Nights: The Brain’s Surprising Reaction to All-Nighters

unveiled the science behind the buoyant mood many feel after acute sleep deprivation, like pulling an all-nighter. The study in mice showed that not only does dopamine release rise during these short periods without sleep, but the brain also rewires itself, enhancing synaptic plasticity for several days.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 30, 2023·4 min read

Brain Waves: Acetylcholine and Dopamine’s Synchronized Dance in Striatum

Researchers unveiled a groundbreaking discovery in brain chemistry. They identified wave-like patterns of the neurochemical acetylcholine in the striatum, a region vital for motivating actions.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 1, 2023·3 min read

Neuro-Insights of the Week From Neuroscience News, October 1, 2023

This week in neuroscience offers groundbreaking insights: "Game of Thrones" enthusiasts, when lonely, neurologically equate favorite characters to real friends; there's a common brain circuit among different substance disorders; the hippocampus plays a central role in memory variations; and ChatGPT-4 impresses with its ability to craft deeply personal narratives, offering a fresh perspective in therapeutic contexts.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 27, 2023·4 min read

Choosing Needs Over Wants: How Dopamine Decides

Researchers unveiled the brain's ability to prioritize needs over wants using the dopamine reward system. This study, observing a male zebra finch's shift from quenching thirst to courting when faced with a female, sheds light on the flexible nature of the dopamine system.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 19, 2023·4 min read

Dopamine’s Decision Role: Faster but Flawed Choices

Recent research reveals dopamine's role in the speed and accuracy of decision-making processes. When dopamine release was elevated, decisions were made faster but with increased inaccuracy.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·September 15, 2023·6 min read

Parkinson’s Onset Theory Challenged: Synaptic Dysfunction Before Neuron Death

Contrary to the widely held belief that Parkinson’s disease originates from the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, a new study suggests a precursor: synaptic dysfunction. This revelation unveils the dysfunction of dopaminergic synapses prior to neurodegeneration.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 11, 2023·5 min read

Dopamine Tunes the Brain for Both Singing and Speech

Contrary to popular belief, speech and singing use overlapping brain circuits, primarily located in the left hemisphere. This discovery challenges the 50-year notion that the right hemisphere supports the singing ability in aphasia patients.

1 … 8 9 10 11 12 … 64

dopamine

COVID-19 May Infect Dopamine Neurons

Love’s Chemistry: How Dopamine Shapes Bonds and Breakups

How Dopamine Deciphers Learning in the Brain

Dopaminergic System Organoid Model Illuminates Parkinson’s and Addiction

Dopamine’s Role in Learning from Rewards and Penalties

Sleepless Nights: The Brain’s Surprising Reaction to All-Nighters

Brain Waves: Acetylcholine and Dopamine’s Synchronized Dance in Striatum

Neuro-Insights of the Week From Neuroscience News, October 1, 2023

Choosing Needs Over Wants: How Dopamine Decides

Dopamine’s Decision Role: Faster but Flawed Choices

Parkinson’s Onset Theory Challenged: Synaptic Dysfunction Before Neuron Death

Dopamine Tunes the Brain for Both Singing and Speech

Hearing Aids Linked to 23% Lower Dementia Risk in Epilepsy

Reading Is the Ultimate Cognitive Enhancer

Dual Brain-Machine Interfaces Unlock Bionic Hand Kinesthesia

Overcoming Endothelial Sorting to Cure Glioblastoma

Subscribe