Latest

pain

·May 16, 2019·2 min read

The insular cortex processes, and drives learning from pain

Using optogenetics to 'switch off' the insular cortex in mice experiencing a painful event resulted in a less fearful reaction to pain. The ability of the mice to learn avoidance from the pain event was also reduced.

This shows an outline of a person with a red brain

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Pain

·May 7, 2019·4 min read

Does insulin resistance cause fibromyalgia?

Study finds a pathogenic relationship between insulin resistance and fibromyalgia. Treating fibromyalgia with metformin, a drug that combats insulin resistance, resulted in a dramatic reduction of pain levels for patients.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·April 29, 2019·4 min read

Newfound autoimmune syndrome causes muscle pain, weakness

Researchers have identified a new autoimmune disease that causes muscle pain and weakness. Large-histiocyte-related immune myopathy (LHIM), generates similar results to the condition rhabdomyolysis in blood chemistry samples. LHIM can effectively be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs to help reduce symptoms.

This shows a rat covering its face with its paws

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·April 11, 2019·4 min read

I feel you: Emotional mirror neurons found in the rat

Study reports the anterior cingulate cortex of rats contain mirror neurons that respond to pain experienced by and observations of others.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 8, 2019·2 min read

A sleep-deprived brain interprets impressions negatively

Sleep loss leads to negativity bias, negative mood and impaired emotional regulation.

Featured Genetics Neurology Pain

·April 8, 2019·5 min read

Migraine-linked protein exhibits sex-specific pain effects

CGRP, a protein associated with migraine pain, appears to act differently between sexes. Researchers say a female-specific mechanism of downstream CGRP receptor activation is likely to contribute to the higher prevalence of migraine in women.

This is the chemical structure of FKBP51

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience Psychology

·April 1, 2019·3 min read

Depression, obesity, chronic pain could be treated by targeting the same key protein

Researchers have developed a compound that blocks the FKBP51 protein, which helps reduce chronic pain, provides positive outcomes for diet-induced obesity and improves symptoms of depression.

This image shows an old couple walking down a street.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 1, 2019·4 min read

Just an hour of weekly walking staves off disability

One hour of walking, or other physical activity, per week, significantly increases the likelihood of maintaining a disability-free status for up to 4 years in older people at risk for osteoarthritis.

This shows a woman listening to music on headphones

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Pain

·March 31, 2019·5 min read

Pairing music with medication offers potential therapeutic strategy to manage pain

Classical music exposure paired with ibuprofen reduced response to inflammation pain by 93%, compared to exposure to the medication alone in mouse models of pain. For those exposed to just music, researchers report a 77% reduction in surgical pain.

Three people are shown in the picture with a building in the background.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Pain

·March 29, 2019·5 min read

Woman with novel gene mutation lives almost pain-free

A rare genetic mutation has been associated with pain insensitivity. The findings could further research into new treatments to target pain.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 14, 2019·3 min read

Using an anti-smoking drug to control neurons

Study outlines a new ion channel based platform for cell activation which is controlled by low doses of the common anti-smoking drug, varenicline.

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.