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opioids

·June 14, 2022·4 min read

Fentanyl May Cause Autism-Like Behavior in Young Mice

Exposure to the opioid fentanyl induces autism-like behaviors in mice by activating mu-opioid receptors in the anterior cingulate cortex.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·August 15, 2021·4 min read

Brain Gene Expression Patterns Altered by Chronic Opioid Use

Opioid use disorder affects genes associated with proinflammatory immune molecule encoding and genes associated with remodeling the extracellular matrix, suggesting the connection between neurons may be altered as a result of opioid use. Additionally, those with OUD have higher levels of microglia in the brain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 26, 2021·4 min read

65+ and Lonely? Don’t Talk to Your Doctor About Another Prescription

Researchers say older adults who feel lonely are twice as likely to use opioids to control pain, and 2.5 times more likely to be prescribed anti-anxiety medications and sedatives than those who have a more socially active lifestyle.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 26, 2021·3 min read

Administering Opioids to Pregnant Mice Alters Behavior and Gene Expression in Offspring

Alterations in long-term social behavior and gene expression were observed in the offspring of mice exposed to pain-killing opioids during pregnancy.

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Featured Neuroscience

·February 4, 2021·4 min read

Experimental Vaccine Blunts the Deadliest of Synthetic Opioids

A newly developed experimental vaccine can diminish the fatal respiratory effects of carfentanil and fentanyl in rodent models.

Featured Neurology Pain Psychology

·December 30, 2020·3 min read

Why Opioids Cannot Fix Chronic Pain

Study explores the role the reward system plays in chronic pain, finding emotional and physical pain are bidirectional. Opioids, researchers report, ultimately make things worse.

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Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·September 10, 2020·4 min read

Pain Tolerance Among Cannabis Users

Unlike long-term opioid use, frequent cannabis use does not increase sensitivity to pain.

Auditory Neuroscience Featured

·August 17, 2020·3 min read

Opioid Use Can Trigger Deafness

A new study links high-dose opioid use to an increased risk of hearing loss and auditory problems. Researchers believe hearing problems may be a result of toxicity to the ear related to opioid exposure.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 19, 2019·2 min read

Cannabis found not to be a substitute for opioids

Study finds no evidence to suggest cannabis helps patients with opioid use disorder to stop using opioids.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·October 21, 2019·2 min read

One in three pain patients suffer side effects after ketamine infusion therapy

35% of patients who used ketamine to manage pain reported significant side effects ranging from hallucination, out-of-body experiences, visual disturbances, and urinary dysfunction. 20% of the side effects were linked directly to ketamine, and 15% associated with ketamine in combination with other drugs.

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Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·September 13, 2019·4 min read

Opiates reduce the brain’s ability to form and maintain synapses

Opiate exposure causes synaptic rewiring in the nucleus accumbens in addition to decreasing dendritic spines. The findings shed light into the neurobiology of opiate relapse.

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Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 29, 2019·3 min read

The ‘inflammation’ of opioid use: Research correlates inflammation in the brain and gut to negative emotional state during opioid withdrawal

Inflammation caused by opioid use to both the brain and gut may exacerbate symptoms of negative emotions associated with withdrawal. Targeting the inflammation could help alleviate the negative experiences of opioid withdrawal and prevent dependence.