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nucleus accumbens

·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.

Image shows the location of the nucleus accumbens in the brain.

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·January 3, 2017·5 min read

Gambling Addiction Triggers Same Brain Area as Alcohol and Drug Cravings

Findings suggest brain networks associated with impulse control could be weakened in people with gambling addiction.

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·December 21, 2016·5 min read

Addictive Cravings Still Detectable After Death

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

Image shows connections in the rat brain.

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·December 19, 2016·4 min read

Early Life Social Stress Has Long Term Impact on Brain Networks: Rat Study

Findings about how early life social stress affect brain connections in mice may have implications for treating human psychiatric illnesses.

Image shows a brain scan with the nac highlighted.

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·November 29, 2016·5 min read

Religious Beliefs Activate Neural Reward Circuits in Same Way As Sex and Drugs

Powerful spiritual feelings were associated with activation in the nucleus accumbens, an area of the brain associated with reward, a new study reports.

Image shows a diagram which includes images of the brain with the NAcc and auditory cortex highlighted.

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 17, 2016·3 min read

How Do the Brains of People Who Don’t Like Music Work?

Researchers explain the neural mechanisms behind a person's lack of sensitivity to music.

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·October 17, 2016·5 min read

Why Risk Taking Behavior Increases During Adolescence

Researchers uncover a casual relationship between behavioral control and a specific imbalance in brain function that exists during adolescence.

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·October 11, 2016·6 min read

Designer Brain Receptors Used in Preclinical Study to Suppress Cued Cocaine Seeking

Gene therapy shows promise for future treatment of addiction in humans, a new study reports.

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·September 30, 2016·5 min read

Researchers Identify Neurons Devoted to Social Memory

Ventral CA1 neurons in the hippocampus store memories of acquaintances, a new study reports.

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·September 27, 2016·6 min read

Pinpointing a Brain Circuit That Keeps Fear at Bay

Researchers have discovered a method to prolong the benefits of extinction and identified a new way to improve exposure therapy in people suffering from phobias and PTSD.

Image shows the location of the NAC in the brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 1, 2016·5 min read

Deactivation of Brain Receptors in Postmenopausal Women May Lead to Lack of Physical Activity

Researchers have discovered a connection between a lack of ovarian hormones and changes in the nucleus accembens following menopause.

Image shows the location of the nucleus accumbense in the brain.

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·July 6, 2016·7 min read

Marijuana Use Dampens Brain’s Response to Reward Over Time

A new long term study of young marijuana users tracks the brain's response to reward over time. The findings indicate a lower response to reward in marijuana users.