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psychopharmacology

This shows two heads with a psychedelic background

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·May 30, 2019·4 min read

‘Ecstasy’ shows promise for post-traumatic stress treatment

MDMA shows promise for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Combining the use of Ecstasy with psychotherapy treatments resulted in a reduction of PTSD symptoms after just one session. 54% of the study participants no longer met the PTSD criteria after two sessions. Patients also reported improvements in depression symptoms.

Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 8, 2017·4 min read

‘Ego Dissolving’ Psychedelic Drugs Could Assist With Mental Health

A new study in Neuroscience of Consciousness adds weight to previous findings about the potential benefits psychedelics could have for treating mental health disorders.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·October 11, 2019·5 min read

‘Sticky’ gene may help Valium calm nerves

A new study challenges existing theories about how benzodiazepines, such as valium, work to calm nerves. Researchers report a 'sticky' gene called Shisa7 plays a critical role in the regulation of inhibitory neural circuits, and the sedative effects benzodiazepines have on circuit activity.

Image shows a packet of Spice synthetic marijuana.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·February 2, 2017·5 min read

‘Synthetic Marijuana’ Linked to Serious Health Problems

Researchers report synthetic marijuana products, sold under names such as K2 or Spice, have serious side effects including psychosis, seizures and even death. Researchers warn they are not a safe substitute for cannabis.

This shows the molecular structure for ketamine.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 14, 2024·7 min read

“Lifesaving” Low-Dose Ketamine Unlocks Rapid Relief for Depression

Researchers have identified how low-dose ketamine alleviates depression by selectively targeting specific NMDA receptors in the brain. Unlike high-dose anesthetic effects, low-dose ketamine binds to lateral grooves on NMDA receptors, enhancing excitatory transmission and long-term synaptic changes.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 6, 2024·8 min read

1 in 6 Antidepressant Users Face Withdrawal Symptoms

15% of people stopping antidepressants experience withdrawal symptoms like dizziness and nausea, while 3% face severe symptoms. The research highlights the need for careful management and counseling by healthcare professionals when discontinuing antidepressants. This study aims to provide a balanced view on the real prevalence of withdrawal symptoms and their impact.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·December 9, 2022·4 min read

A Better Understanding of How the Most Commonly Used ADHD Medication Works

Study reveals how methylphenidate interacts with cognitive control networks and attention behaviors. Methylphenidate changes spontaneous neural activity in reward and cognitive control systems in children with ADHD. The changes result in more stable sustained attention.

Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·December 16, 2016·6 min read

A Cure For Social Anxiety Disorder

A new study reports cognitive therapy appears to be most effective for treating social anxiety disorder.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 27, 2023·4 min read

A Drug That Increases Dopamine Can Reverse the Effects of Inflammation on the Brain in Depression

Levodopa, a drug commonly prescribed for the treatment of Parkinson's disease that increases dopamine in the brain was found to reverse the effects of neuroinflammation on the reward system and improve symptoms associated with depression.

This shows plant leaves and brain scans from the study

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 3, 2021·4 min read

A First Look at How the Psychedelic Salvinorin A Works in the Brain

As with other psychedelics, salvinorin A increased activity across the brain. However, salvinorin A use resulted in more random and disconnected signaling in the default mode network, a brain network associated with relaxing and daydreaming.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 28, 2021·4 min read

A Psychedelic-Like Drug Without the Hallucinogenic Side Effects

PsychLight, a newly developed genetically encoded fluorescent sensor, helped researchers identify a psychedelic compound that acts on beneficial neural pathways to treat psychiatric disorders without the hallucinogenic effect.

This shows an outline of a child and ADHD

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 29, 2021·5 min read

ADHD Drug Class Leads to Fewer Side Effects in Preschool Children

Alpha-2-adrenergic agonists appear to be effective at reducing symptoms associated with ADHD in preschool-aged children, and have fewer side effects than traditional stimulants used to treat ADHD.