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habenula

·April 28, 2025·9 min read

Tiny Brain Structure Reveals New Paths to Treat Addiction, Depression

New research spotlights the habenula, a tiny but powerful brain region, as a key player in addiction, motivation, and emotional regulation. Studies show that the habenula’s circuitry influences how the brain processes rewards, disappointment, and drug cravings, offering potential drug targets like the GPR151 receptor.

This shows a woman holding her head in her hands.

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·September 5, 2024·4 min read

Observing Trauma Boosts Resilience Through Serotonin

A new study reveals that observing others endure trauma can increase resilience and protect against depression. Researchers found that serotonin, released in the brain's habenula, plays a key role in this process, enhancing resilience by altering neuronal activity.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 8, 2022·4 min read

Human Cocaine and Heroin Addiction Is Found Tied to Impairments in Specific Brain Circuit Initially Implicated in Animals

Greater impairment of the prefrontal cortex-habenula pathway was correlated with earlier age of first drug use.

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·August 20, 2021·4 min read

Smells and Emotions Tug on the Brain’s Habenula

The habenula relays external information, such as sight and smell, along with internal states associated with emotion and learning to brain regions that govern adaptive behaviors.

This shows fish and the structure of NRF2

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 13, 2020·2 min read

Discovery of a drug to rescue winter depression-like behavior

Fish model study found a potential target for the treatment of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Researchers implicated NRF2 in seasonal depression and reported celastrol may help in the treatment of SAD.

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·October 17, 2019·3 min read

How hunger makes food tastier

Study identifies the neural circuits that cause hunger-induced increases in the preference for sweet foods and decreased sensitivity to aversive tastes.

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·February 14, 2019·3 min read

Brain Pathways of Aversion Identified

Researchers have identified a specific pathway between the hypothalamus and habenula that controls feelings of aversion.

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·June 26, 2018·6 min read

A New Way to Block Alcohol Addiction and Ease Withdrawal Discovered

Activating a receptor found in neurons in the habenula could help treat alcohol addiction and ease withdrawal symptoms, researchers report.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 12, 2018·4 min read

Brain Circuits Controlling Social Behavior Identified

A new study in Biological Psychiatry implicates the habenula in controlling social behavior. Increasing activity in the habenula leads to social problems, researchers report.

Image shows the interpeduncular nucleus of a mouse brain.

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·December 28, 2017·5 min read

Brain Research Points the Way to New Treatments for Nicotine Addiction

Researchers have identified specific chemical changes in the brain that drive nicotine addiction. The findings could lead to new treatments to help break the addiction.