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nucleus accumbens

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·December 9, 2022·4 min read

A Better Understanding of How the Most Commonly Used ADHD Medication Works

Study reveals how methylphenidate interacts with cognitive control networks and attention behaviors. Methylphenidate changes spontaneous neural activity in reward and cognitive control systems in children with ADHD. The changes result in more stable sustained attention.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·February 27, 2019·5 min read

A Gentle Method For Unlocking the Mysteries of the Deep Brain

Researchers report EEG technology has the ability to study activity of areas deep inside the brain, such as the thalamus and nucleus accumbens. The findings will help shed new light on disorders that affect these brain regions, such as Parkinson's disease and OCD.

This image shows the anatomy to the VTA with the striatum, nucleus accumbens and substantia nigra labelled.

Featured Psychology

·July 21, 2015·3 min read

A New Target For Depression Treatment

Researchers have identified a potential new target to treat recurring depression.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·December 21, 2016·5 min read

Addictive Cravings Still Detectable After Death

Researchers report addictive cravings can be detected in the brain after death.

This shows a skateboarder pulling some moves

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·September 1, 2019·4 min read

Adolescents’ fun seeking predicts both risk taking and prosocial behavior

A positive correlation has been identified between prosocial and rebellious behaviors in teens. The more risk taking behaviors a teen exhibited, the more likely they were to act prosocially. The findings suggest the same developmental processes are at work for both types of behaviors. Also noted was faster brain development in the medial prefrontal cortex predicted a decrease in rebellious behavior.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 29, 2020·3 min read

Age, sex and smoking influence opioid receptor function in the brain

Age, sex, and gender influence the organization of the brain's opioid system. Findings shed light on why there are significant differences between the opioid system on an individual level, and why some are more prone to developing opioid-linked pathologies than others.

This image shows brain scans of the continued damage alcohol does to the brain

Featured Neuroscience

·April 3, 2019·5 min read

Alcohol-induced brain damage continues after alcohol is stopped

Contrary to popular belief that brain changes begin to normalize immediately after ceasing alcohol consumption, a new study reveals damage to the brain continues during the first weeks of abstinence.

This is a drawing of a mouse on a tiny island

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 28, 2019·4 min read

An island for negative emotions

In mice, the insular cortex processes negative emotions and bodily discomfort. The findings shed light on emotional processing in animals and humans.

This is a diagram of the dopamine pathway in the brain.

Featured Neurology Pain

·August 24, 2015·4 min read

Antidepressants Reduce Neuropathic Pain by Altering Signaling Protein Levels in Nucleus Accumbens

Researchers believe the newly understood mechanism could yield insights into more precise future treatments for nerve pain and depression.

This is a drawing of two voles hugging over a heart

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 11, 2020·4 min read

Are our brains hard-wired for longing?

Neuroimaging study reveals the neural basis for the motivation to reunite with the ones you love. The findings could lead to new therapies for disorders associated with social behaviors, and may also help explain why social distancing is so tough.