reward system Research Articles

This shows the location of the nucleus accumbens in the brain

Why marijuana affects different people differently

Neuroscience NewsJuly 8, 2019

By looking at THC’s effect on a rat brain, the researchers showed that THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, can produce highly rewarding effects in the front-most part of a region of the brain called the nucleus accumbens. The image is in the public domain.... Read More...

FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology4 min read

Ignoring cues for alcohol and fast food is hard – but is it out of our control?

Neuroscience NewsJuly 5, 2019

Stress and tiredness make it harder for you to ignore environmental cues that signal something rewarding.... Read More...

FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology6 min read

This shows a mouse and a diagram of a mouse brain

Unraveling the brain’s reward circuits

Neuroscience NewsJuly 4, 2019

Study reveals how ArGP and dopamine neurons are linked, and how food and drugs affect them differently. The findings offer clues for the development of new treatments for obesity and substance use disorders.... Read More...

FeaturedNeuroscience7 min read

Information addiction: How information is like snacks, money, and drugs to your brain

Neuroscience NewsJune 19, 2019

Obtaining new information may be addictive. Study finds information acquisition shares the same dopamine producing reward system pathway as food, financial rewards and drugs. ... Read More...

FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles7 min read

This shows a person standing on a bridge

Formation of habitual use drives cannabis addiction

Neuroscience NewsJune 13, 2019

Individual differences in the striatum of habitual cannabis users distinguish between who is at increased risk of addiction and cannabis use disorder.... Read More...

FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology4 min read

The prefrontal cortex in the brain is highlighted here

Growing up high: Neurobiological consequences of adolescent cannabis use

Neuroscience NewsMay 26, 2019

Researchers evaluate the psychological and neurobiological impact of teen cannabis use. The findings, to be presented at the 13th Annual Canadian Neuroscience Meeting, will cover how cannabis contributes to cognitive impairments, psychosis and deficits in decision making in adolescents.... Read More...

FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology6 min read

Inflammation induces anhedonia in women but not men

Neuroscience NewsMay 15, 2019

Inflammation appears to reduce reward response in females. Reduced activity in the brain's reward system is a key component of anhedonia, the loss of enjoyment in activities, a core feature of depression. The findings may explain why depression is more prevalent in women than in men.... Read More...

FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology4 min read

Hearts are shown as pieces on a tic-tac-toe board

Unexpectedly, big wins improve two kinds of memory

Neuroscience NewsMay 6, 2019

Unexpected rewards boost memories of specific events. The findings may have implications for treating memory problems associated with depression. ... Read More...

FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology6 min read

Differences in brain activity in children with anhedonia

Neuroscience NewsMarch 13, 2019

Using fMRI to examine the brains of children while resting, researchers discover anhedonia is associated with hyperconnectivity between the cingulo-opercular network and ventral striatum.... Read More...

FeaturedNeuroscience6 min read

The Unexpected Creates Reward When Listening to Music

Neuroscience NewsFebruary 12, 2019

A new study reports unexpected changes in music activates the nucleus accumbens, providing reward and helping us to learn about the music as we listen. ... Read More...

FeaturedNeuroscience5 min read

Women’s Hormones Play Role in Drug Addiction and Higher Relapse Rates

Neuroscience NewsFebruary 9, 2019

A new study reports the female hormone cycle may explain why women are more prone to addiction and affected by triggers that lead to relapse.... Read More...

FeaturedNeuroscienceNeuroscience VideosPsychology6 min read

Dopamine Modulates Reward Experiences Elicited by Music

Neuroscience NewsJanuary 24, 2019

Researchers report a causal link between dopamine, musical pleasure and motivation. Phamacologically manipulating dopamine levels, researchers found increasing dopamine increased the hedonic experience and motivational response to listening to a piece of music.... Read More...

FeaturedNeuroscience6 min read

News

Your spending data may reveal aspects of your personality

Legalized recreational marijuana a substitute for alcohol, but not tobacco

What You Think Is What You See

Neuroscience

Your spending data may reveal aspects of your personality

Legalized recreational marijuana a substitute for alcohol, but not tobacco

What You Think Is What You See

Neurology

Bacterial intestinal infections may trigger Parkinson’s disease

Apathy: The forgotten symptom of dementia

Study pinpoints cell types affected in brains of multiple sclerosis patients

AI

Electronic chip mimics the brain to make memories in a flash

Deep learning algorithm solves Rubik’s Cube faster than any human

Neuroscience and artificial intelligence can help improve each other

Robotics

3D printed prosthetic hand can guess how you play Rock, Paper, Scissors

Brain cells for 3D vision discovered

Psychology

Your spending data may reveal aspects of your personality

Legalized recreational marijuana a substitute for alcohol, but not tobacco

Apathy: The forgotten symptom of dementia

reward system

Why marijuana affects different people differently

Ignoring cues for alcohol and fast food is hard – but is it out of our control?

Unraveling the brain’s reward circuits

Information addiction: How information is like snacks, money, and drugs to your brain

Formation of habitual use drives cannabis addiction

Growing up high: Neurobiological consequences of adolescent cannabis use

Inflammation induces anhedonia in women but not men

Unexpectedly, big wins improve two kinds of memory

Differences in brain activity in children with anhedonia

The Unexpected Creates Reward When Listening to Music

Women’s Hormones Play Role in Drug Addiction and Higher Relapse Rates

Dopamine Modulates Reward Experiences Elicited by Music