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nucleus accumbens

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·July 8, 2019·3 min read

Why marijuana affects different people differently

By looking at THC’s effect on a rat brain, the researchers showed that THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, can produce highly rewarding effects in the front-most part of a region of the brain called the nucleus accumbens. The image is in the public domain.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 27, 2019·5 min read

Brain structure determines individual differences regarding music sensitivity

White matter connectivity between the auditory processing areas and brain areas associated with reward may explain why we like, or dislike music.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 25, 2019·3 min read

How the brain helps us make good decisions, and bad ones

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) appears to play a significant role in our ability to make decisions. A network connecting the OFC and nucleus accumbens translates negative outcomes into values, while the OFC-amygdala circuit helps stabilize action values.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 23, 2019·5 min read

Obesity linked with differences in form and structure of the brain

Obesity is associated with alterations in brain structure, including lower gray matter volume and smaller globus pallidus volume.

This shows a brain overlayed on a person's head with a swirly, psychedelic background

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 4, 2019·5 min read

Psychedelic drug MDMA may reawaken ‘critical period’ in brain to help treat PTSD

MDMA, a psychedelic drug, has successfully been used to reopen the 'critical period' of learning the reward values of social behaviors. Researchers report, in mature mice given MDMA, oxytocin triggers signaling in synapses that help encode social learning and memory, a process that does not usually occur in older animals. The findings could help in the development of treatments for PTSD and other disorders.

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.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·March 13, 2019·5 min read

Blunting pain’s emotional component

Blocking the release of dynorphin, researchers restore motivation in animals experiencing pain. The findings may help in the development of new, less addictive, pain medications.

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.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·February 25, 2019·2 min read

Manipulating Gene Expression in Neurons with CRISPR

By optimizing neurons with CRISPR gene editing technology, researchers will have new ways to study genetic influences on brain health and disease, a new study reports.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·February 22, 2019·9 min read

Finding the Elusive Drinking ‘Brake’

Researchers have uncovered a mechanism in the BNST that senses the negative effects of alcohol and modulates the urge to drink. The study reports that when this mechanism doesn't function correctly, we lose the ability to recognize that we have had enough to drink.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 12, 2019·3 min read

The Unexpected Creates Reward When Listening to Music

A new study reports unexpected changes in music activates the nucleus accumbens, providing reward and helping us to learn about the music as we listen.