Latest

psychiatry

·June 12, 2013·4 min read

Dad’s Life Stress Exposure Can Affect Offspring Brain Development

Researchers have shown stress on preadolesecent and adult male mice induced an epigenetic mark in their sperm which reprogrammed their offspring's HPA axis, a region the the brain which governs stress response.

The image is an illustration of an activated NMDA receptor.

Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·June 7, 2013·2 min read

Neurochemical Traffic Signals May Open New Avenues for the Treatment of Schizophrenia

Researchers uncover clues about the biochemical pathway in the brain which could expand treatment options for schizophrenia.

The image shows a light beam shining onto a neuron.

Featured Psychology

·June 6, 2013·4 min read

Compulsive No More

Researchers use optogenetics to control compulsive behavior in mice. The results could help to develop new treatments such as OCD and Tourette's syndrome.

The image shows a patient undergoing MRI neuroimaging.

Featured Psychology

·June 5, 2013·2 min read

Neuroimaging May Offer New Way to Diagnose Bipolar Disorder

Researchers suggest MRI could prove an effective tool in diagnosing mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder. Using advanced computational models, researchers were able to correctly distinguish bipolar patients from healthy individuals with 73% accuracy based on brain scans alone.

The image shows MRI brain scans of adults exposed to lead as children.

Featured Psychology

·May 31, 2013·4 min read

Lead Acts to Trigger Schizophrenia

Genetically engineered mice with a human gene for schizophrenia and who were exposed to lead early in life, exhibited behavioral and structural changes in the brain consistent with schizophrenia. Researchers believe their findings show a synergistic effect between lead exposure and the schizophrenia gene.

The image shows neurons in a subsection of the adult rat hippocampus. The caption best describes the image.

Electrophysiology Featured

·May 30, 2013·4 min read

Ketamine Cousin Rapidly Lifts Depression Without Side Effects

A new study funded by the NIMH suggests GLYX-13, a molecular cousin to ketamine, induces similar antidepressant results without the negative side effects of the well known street drug.

This is an ovary shortly before an egg is released.

Featured Psychology

·May 24, 2013·2 min read

Hormone Levels Could Provide Key to Understanding Psychological Disorders in Women

According to a new study, ovulating women may be more vulnerable to some psychological side effects associated with stressful experiences. The results suggest a monthly window of opportunity that could potentially be targeted in efforts to prevent common mental health problems developing in women.

the image is a brain of MRI scan data for child onset schizophrenia showing areas of brain growth and loss of tissue.

Featured Genetics

·May 22, 2013·4 min read

Researchers Eliminate Schizophrenia Symptoms in Animal Model

When elevated levels of neuregulin-1, a gene associated with schizophrenia, are returned to normal, the symptoms of the illness disappear.

The MRI image shows the location of the hippocampus in the brain.

Featured Genetics Psychology

·May 21, 2013·4 min read

Genetic Predictors of Postpartum Depression Uncovered

The alteration of the TTC9B and HP1BP3 genes, detected by a blood test during pregnancy, predicted the onset of postpartum depression with 85% accuracy in a small study.