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medial prefrontal cortex

This shows two people looking at one another

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·March 3, 2020·3 min read

The neural processes behind our desire for revenge

During a conflict between two groups, oxytocin levels increase, influencing the medial prefrontal cortex. This results in a greater feeling of empathy among the group and a desire to seek revenge on rivals. The findings shed light on how conflict contagion can occur in social groups.

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·March 2, 2020·2 min read

Coping strategies, a matter of neuron

Researchers uncover a key role of medial prefrontal cortex corticotropin-releasing factor interneurons for bidirectionally controlling motivated behavioral styles under stress. The findings could help in the development of new treatments for PTSD.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 24, 2020·3 min read

Generosity and selfishness: A neural dance

Unique signatures of neural synchrony reflect whether pro-social or anti-social decisions are made. Brain regions, including the cingulate gyrus, amygdala, and medial prefrontal cortex, are highly synchronized when pro-social behavior is exhibited but decreases in the presence of anti-social behavior.

This shows the mPFC and striatum highligted on a brain scan

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·January 17, 2020·5 min read

Rich rewards: ADHD medication’s effect on the brain

Methylphenidate may boost norepinephrine levels in the prefrontal cortex, which in turn regulates dopaminergic neurons firing in the striatum, when a reward is delivered. The study sheds new light on how medications for ADHD affect the reward system in the brain.

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·December 26, 2019·5 min read

How to tell if a brain is awake

Study finds EEG features may not always be accurate in being able to capture the level of consciousness in patients under anesthesia.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 13, 2019·6 min read

Deepening our understanding of selfish behavior

Study identifies distinct neural processes that occur when we make decisions for the benefit of ourselves and of others.

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·November 25, 2019·5 min read

How our dreams prepare us to face our fears

Study identified the neural correlates of fear during dreaming and reports similar areas are activated when experiencing fear during wakeful states.

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·November 22, 2019·3 min read

What leads to compulsive alcohol use?

A network linking the medial prefrontal cortex and brainstem plays a critical role in the development of compulsive drinking disorder and is a driver for its expression.

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·November 7, 2019·4 min read

What your friends’ brains look like when they think of you

To accurately perceive another person, your neural representation of that person has to match the pattern in the persons' brain when they think about themselves.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 4, 2019·4 min read

Stressed to the max? Deep sleep can rewire the anxious brain

Deep sleep restores the medial prefrontal cortex mechanisms that restore emotion. This lowers emotional and physiological reactivity, preventing the escalation of stress and anxiety.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·October 25, 2019·2 min read

How our brains remember things depends upon how we learn them

Neural pathways for learning differ depending on how each person has learned a new skill.

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·October 24, 2019·5 min read

Gut instincts: Researchers discover first clues on how gut health influences brain health

Mice bred to be germ-free, and those treated with antibiotics showed a significant reduction in the ability to learn that a threatening danger was no longer present. Sequencing the RNA of microglia in the brains of the animals reveals altered gene expression in the immune cells, which play a role in remodeling how neurons connect during the learning process. Restoring the gut microbiota reverse the learning problems.