FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·February 16, 2023·3 min readReceptor Location Matters for Psychedelic Drug EffectsLocation bias may explain how psychedelic medications work. Researchers found that engaging serotonin 2A receptors inside neurons promotes the growth of new connections, but engaging the same receptor on the outside of a neuron does not. The findings may guide the development of new psychoplastogens to treat a range of disorders including depression and PTSD.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·February 14, 2023·4 min readDrug Shown to Alleviate Autism-Associated BehaviorA newly developed drug that blocks sodium channels in the cell membrane that can reverse MYT1L failure alleviates social behavior deficits in mouse models of ASD.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPain·February 2, 2023·7 min readAntidepressants Use for Chronic Pain on the Rise, but Are They Effective?SNRI antidepressants appear to be effective in the treatment of a range of pain conditions including neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and postoperative pain. Tricyclic antidepressants may not be effective in the treatment of pain.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·January 31, 2023·5 min readBeta-Blocker Use Associated With Lower Rates of ViolenceBeta-blockers, a class of drugs commonly used to treat hypertension and cardiovascular disorders, appear to reduce aggressive and violent behaviors, and can reduce suicidal behaviors.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·January 31, 2023·4 min readDo Sleep Medications Increase Your Chances of Dementia?People who frequently take sleeping medications are 79% more likely to develop dementia than those who never use sleeping pills to aid their rest.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·January 30, 2023·4 min readExperimental Anti-depression Drug May Also Be Useful in Treating Alcohol Use DisorderMAP4343, an experimental antidepressant compound reversed alcohol intake in rat models of alcohol use disorder. The findings pave the way for utilizing the compound for the treatment of AUD in humans.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePainPsychology·January 30, 2023·5 min readHow Ketamine Acts as Antidepressant in Chronic PainChronic pain in mice activates Tiam1 in pyramidal neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex, increasing the number of dendritic spines and inducing synaptic plasticity. Ketamine's antidepressant effect in chronic pain is mediated by the drug blocking Tiam1-dependent maladaptive synaptic plasticity in ACC neurons.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·January 27, 2023·4 min readA Drug That Increases Dopamine Can Reverse the Effects of Inflammation on the Brain in DepressionLevodopa, 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.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·January 23, 2023·5 min readStudy Explains Emotional ‘Blunting’ Caused by Common AntidepressantsSSRI antidepressants can make users less sensitive to rewards, resulting in emotional blunting many users experience. The findings provide new evidence for the role serotonin plays in reinforcement learning.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·January 18, 2023·4 min readHow Serotonin Genes and SSRIs Can Contribute to Heart Valve DiseaseTaking SSRIs and having the "long-long" serotonin SERT genetic variant lowers SERT activity in the mitral valve, leading to degenerative mitral regurgitation, one of the most common heart valve diseases.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·January 17, 2023·5 min readFrequent Visits to Green Space Linked to Lower Use of Certain Prescription MedsPeople who frequently visit green spaces are less likely to use prescription medications for anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, and asthma, a new study reports.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·January 15, 2023·5 min readOld Antipsychotic Drugs May Offer New Option to Treat Type 2 DiabetesDiphenylbutylpiperidines (DPBPs), an older class of antipsychotic medications can effectively be repurposed to help treat type 2 diabetes, a new study reports.Read More
