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mesolimbic system

·October 30, 2022·5 min read

Teenage Brains: What Is Happening and Why It Leads to More Risky Behaviors

Decision-making requires two different brain areas that mature at different times during the teenage years. This may help parents understand why their teens are more prone to making risky decisions.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·October 30, 2018·4 min read

Dopamine Drives Early Addiction to Heroin

Researchers have identified a significant role dopamine plays in the development of heroin addiction. The study reports dopamine appears to directly cause drug reinforcement and, when dopamine neurons are silenced, mice are less likely to self administer the drug.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 24, 2018·6 min read

Why Our Brains See the World As “Us” Versus “Them”

Researchers say our neural circuits could be responsible for why we find comfort in those who are similar to us and why we are often uneasy with those who might differ from us.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 27, 2018·3 min read

Exercise Helps Treat Addiction by Altering Brain’s Dopamine System

Researchers report, in animal models of addiction, daily aerobic exercise alters the mesolimbic dopamine pathway in the brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 20, 2017·4 min read

Now You Like It, Now You Don’t: Brain Stimulation Changes Musical Enjoyment

Using transcranial magnetic stimulation, researchers were able to increase and decrease people's enjoyment of music; and desire to listen to more.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 20, 2017·5 min read

Window to Brain’s Reward System Could Lead to Better Treatments for Alcoholism

Nalmefene blunts the brain's reward pathway in people with alcohol addiction, a new study reports.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 4, 2017·4 min read

Not Feeling the Music? Lack of Joy From Music Linked to Brain Disconnection

People with musical anhedonia have reduced connectivity between brain areas associated with reward and sound processing, a new study reports.

This image shows a man eating a cookie and looking guilty.

Featured Genetics Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 26, 2015·4 min read

Eat For Pleasure Rather Than Hunger? You May Have a Hormone Deficiency

Do you prefer the taste of fatty food? Are you someone who eats for pleasure rather than for hunger's sake? According to a new study, the tendency to overeat could be due to a hormone deficiency.