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nucleus accumbens

Featured Neuroscience

·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.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·November 15, 2022·3 min read

How the Nucleus Accumbens Mediates Positive and Negative Motivational Valence

Study reveals the mechanism of the nucleus accumbens for mediating reward and aversion.

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

Featured Neuroscience

·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.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 10, 2018·6 min read

Dopamine’s Yin-Yang Personality: It’s an Upper and a Downer

Researchers shed light on the dual nature of dopamine, as a neurotransmitter that makes us seek pleasure and also reinforces avoidance of pain.

This shows the maze the researchers used

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 19, 2022·7 min read

Brain’s Sensitivity to Different Types of Regret May Impact Mood Disorders Like Depression

Study finds mice show sensitivity to two different types of regret, and the different thought processes stem from different parts of the brain. Researchers also identified a genetic marker that predisposes maladaptive stress response traits and vulnerability to depression was linked to sensitivity to one type of regret.

A brain image is shown with the medial forebrain highlighted.

Electrophysiology Featured Psychology

·April 9, 2013·3 min read

Sensational Success in Patients with Major Depression Using Deep Brain Stimulation

Researchers implanted pacemaker electrodes into the medial forebrain bundle of patients suffering from major depression and performed deep brain stimulation. In a matter of days, in six out of seven patients, symptoms such as anxiety, despondence, listlessness and joylessness had improved considerably.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 11, 2019·5 min read

Brain Cells that Modulate Behavioral Response to Threats Identified

Researchers implicate neurons within the dorsolateral septum in the regulation of fearful behaviors in mice.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 3, 2015·4 min read

Aversion and Reward Behaviors Activated Through Same Neural Pathways

Findings suggest drug treatments for addiction and depression simultaneously may stimulate and reward and aversion responses.

This shows a graph and the location of the amygdala in the brain

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 14, 2022·3 min read

Loneliness Has a Different Neural Basis Than Social Anxiety

People with social anxiety have increased amygdala activity during social decision making, and reduced activity in the nucleus accumbens during social feedback. Those who are lonely did not experience the same alterations as those with social anxiety, suggesting loneliness is a unique condition.

The image is an MRI scan of the brain with the nucleus accumbens highlighted.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 23, 2013·2 min read

Binge Eating Curbed by Deep Brain Stimulation in Animal Model

Targeting the nucleus accumbens by using deep brain stimulation could modify specific eating behaviors linked to weight changes and obesity, a new study suggests.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·November 7, 2022·5 min read

Motivation Is Affected by Oxidative Stress, but Nutrition Can Help

Higher levels of glutathione in the nucleus accumbens correlated with better and more steady performance in motivation-based tasks. Findings suggest improvements in accumbal anti-oxidant function that can be acquired via diet or supplementation may be a feasible approach to help boost motivation.

The image shows a diagram of the brain with specific regions of the dopamine and serotonin pathways mapped out.

Featured Psychology

·March 15, 2013·2 min read

Discovery Could Yield Treatment for Cocaine Addicts

Researchers discovered cocaine causes cells within the nucleus accumbens to boost the production of two specific proteins linked to addition and learning. Understanding addiction on a molecular level could lead to future developments for new treatments.