Latest

glutamate

This shows the location of the ventral pallidum in the brain

·December 31, 2019·3 min read

How the brain balances pleasure and pain

Different classes of neurons in the ventral pallidum control positive and negative motivations, sending opposing signals along a shared motivation-processing circuit.

This shows a person laying with their head on the table and an empty alcohol bottle

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·December 30, 2019·6 min read

Hangovers happen as your body tries to protect itself from alcohol’s toxic effects

Researchers explore the biology behind hangovers, including how excessive alcohol consumption alters glutamate, serotonin, and dopamine. The paper also examines how to reduce the effects of a heavy night's drinking.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 13, 2019·2 min read

Dietary supplement may help with schizophrenia

The dietary supplement sarcosine taken in combination with antipsychotic medications may be beneficial for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·August 29, 2019·4 min read

Lack of oxygen doesn’t kill infant brain cells, as previously thought

A lack of oxygen as a result of preterm birth does not cause hippocampal neurons to die but does impair hippocampal development. Hypoxia causes hippocampal cells to fail to mature normally, causing a reduction in long-term potentiation and impaired learning.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 16, 2019·5 min read

Ketamine: The illicit party psychedelic that promises to heal depression

Ketamine, an anesthetics which has been commonly used as an illicit party drug, is helping people overcome depression. The drug works rapidly and provides lasting relief from depressive symptoms for weeks after exposure. Researchers are examining how ketamine works in the brain to help positively influence behavior in those with mood disorders.

This shows the researcher's daughter and the broccoli sprouts she is growing

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·May 8, 2019·10 min read

Broccoli sprout compound may restore brain chemistry imbalance linked to schizophrenia

Sulforaphane, a compound derived from broccoli sprouts, may be a useful new treatment for those suffering from schizophrenia. In a recent set of animal and human studies, researchers characterized novel chemical imbalances in the brain related to glutamate. Levels of glutamate, they discovered, can be altered by administering sulforaphane.

This is the chemical structure of ketamine

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 30, 2019·4 min read

Researchers Discover How a Critical Receptor is Involved in the Response to Fast-Acting Antidepressants Like Ketamine

The mGlu2 receptor plays a critical role in the effectiveness of ketamine for treating depression.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·February 22, 2019·9 min read

Finding the Elusive Drinking ‘Brake’

Researchers have uncovered a mechanism in the BNST that senses the negative effects of alcohol and modulates the urge to drink. The study reports that when this mechanism doesn't function correctly, we lose the ability to recognize that we have had enough to drink.

Featured Genetics Neurology Open Neuroscience Articles

·February 15, 2019·4 min read

Researchers Describe First Model of Mitochondrial Epilepsy

Researchers have developed a new model of mitochondrial epilepsy which captures specific features observed in patients. The new model may help provide better therapies and treatments for the condition.