Latest

parabrachial nucleus

·December 17, 2021·5 min read

Pain and Anxiety Impact Breathing on a Cellular Level

Core neurons in the lateral parabrachial nucleus project to the amygdala, an area of the brain associated with fear and emotional processing of pain. Neurons in the shell project to the pre-Bötzinger complex, a region that generates breathing rhythm. Both core and shell neurons influence each other according to inputs from each area, increasing breathing rate when we are in pain or anxious.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 13, 2019·5 min read

Scientists discover key neural circuit regulating alcohol consumption

Specific neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala regulate alcohol consumption.

This shows the network from the gustatory thalamus to the cortex in mice

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 7, 2019·3 min read

Neurons that encode sweetness identified: Mouse study

SatB2PBN-expressing neurons in the parabrachial nucleus play a key role in processing and encoding sweet tastes. The SatB2PBN neurons relay sweet taste signals from the gustatory thalamus to the cortex in mouse models.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 19, 2018·3 min read

Study Explains Behavioral Reaction to Painful Experiences

According to researchers, bodily responses to pain are controlled by a neural pathway that involves heightened activity in the spinal cord and two parts of the brain-stem.

Featured Neurology Pain

·August 28, 2018·4 min read

Novel Brain Network Linked to Chronic Pain in Parkinson’s

Researchers have identified a novel, pain sensing network that links the subthalamic nucleus to a pain processing network in mouse models of Parkinson's disease.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·March 22, 2018·5 min read

Being Hungry Turns Off Perception of Chronic Pain

Researchers report the brain can suppress feelings of chronic pain when mice are hungry.

Featured Neurology Pain

·November 13, 2017·5 min read

Why Head and Face Pain Cause More Suffering

Duke researchers have discovered head and facial sensory neurons are directly wired into one of the brain's main emotional signaling hubs. Sensory neurons throughout the rest of the body are indirectly connected to the system. The findings help explain why head and face pains are more emotionally draining than other pains.

Image shows a diagram explaining the thermoceptors.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·August 3, 2017·4 min read

Different Sensory Pathways Engaged in Feeling and Responding to External Temperature

Researchers shed light on thermoregulation by disabling parts of rat brains and observing their choice of a comfortable environmental temperature. The findings could provide new understanding of conditions such as heatstroke.