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.
Metformin, a common diabetes medication, shows promise for the treatment of anxiety and depression.
A new study reports the serotonin system is made up of multiple parallel pathways that affect the brain in different, and sometimes opposing, ways.
A new study implicates serotonin neurons in the nucleus accumbens with social behavior in mouse models of ASD. When serotonin release was triggered, researchers noted social behaviors normalized.
Researchers report mitochondrial dysfunction may affect the activity of serotonergic neurons in mice with ANT1 mutations. The findings may provide insight into the origins of bipolar disorder.
Mothers who eat high fat diets during pregnancy could be elevating the risk of future depression and anxiety symptoms for their children, a new study in Frontiers in Endocrinology reports. High fat diets may impair the development of the central serotonin system, researchers discovered. Further studies noted that introducing a healthy diet to the offspring at an early age did not reverse the effect.
Researchers report on a link between bone mineral density and serotonergic synthesis in preclinical models of Alzheimer's disease.