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reward system

·June 16, 2022·5 min read

Us Versus Them: Harming the ‘Outgroup’ Is Linked to Elevated Activity in the Brain’s Reward Circuitry

Aggression toward members in an "outgroup" was associated with increased activity in areas of the brain associated with reward. Activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex impacted the level of aggression a person demonstrated against an outsider.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 16, 2022·3 min read

Researchers Described How the Cerebellum Modulates Our Ability to Socialize

Dopamine in the cerebellum helps regulate social behaviors via its action on D2 receptors. Changes in D2 levels in Purkinje cells alter sociability and preference for social novelty without affecting motor function.

This shows a drawing of a woman with cannabis leaves in her hair

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 13, 2022·6 min read

How Cannabis Affects Our Cognition and Psychology

Researchers investigate how cannabis can influence a number of cognitive and psychological processes.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 4, 2022·4 min read

Neuronal Mechanisms That Control Food Cravings During Pregnancy Identified

A new study sheds light on the neurobiology of cravings for certain foods women experience while pregnant. According to researchers, during pregnancy, the brain undergoes alterations to functional connections in the reward systems, as well as taste and sensorimotor centers. Pregnant females become more sensitive to sweet foods and develop binge eating behaviors toward high-calorie foods. Pregnancy induces a full reorganization of the mesolimbic neural circuits via D2R dopaminergic neurons in the nucleus accumbens.

This shows medium spiny neurons in the NCA

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 31, 2022·4 min read

Gene-Environment Interactions That Drives Autism

Inducing massive inflammation resulted in an overexpression of Trpv4. The overexpression led to neural hyperexcitability that resulted in social avoidance behaviors associated with ASD in mouse models.

This shows a group of friends in a field

Featured Neuroscience

·December 2, 2021·4 min read

Tracking the Neurons That Make Us Social

The motivation to invest in social interactions is closely linked to the reward system via the activation of dopaminergic neurons.

Featured Neuroscience Pain Psychology

·October 18, 2021·5 min read

Brain Circuitry Identified That May Be Responsible for Negative Emotional Aspects of Pain

A new rodent study uncovers a neural circuit in the brain that appears to govern pain-induced anhedonia. Altering the activity of this circuit restored motivation in pre-clinical models of pain.

This shows neurons in the basolateral amygdala

Featured Neuroscience

·October 18, 2021·3 min read

Mammalian Motivation Circuits: Maybe They’re Born With It

Researchers have identified a pre-programmed neural circuit in the basolateral amygdala of mice that processes both positive and negative stimuli.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·September 29, 2021·4 min read

New Research Exposes the Biological Basis of Empathy

The brain's reward system plays a key role in helping behaviors and empathy.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 2, 2021·4 min read

Beyond Dopamine: New Reward Circuitry Discovered

Researchers have identified a new reward system in the brain. The study found long-range GABA neurons from the ventral tegmental area to the ventral nucleus accumbens shell are engaged in reward and reinforcement behaviors. This GABAergic projection inhibits cholinergic interneurons.

This shows the location of the tpj and dlpfc in the brain

Featured Neuroscience

·August 10, 2021·5 min read

Readiness to Punish Others for Selfish Behavior Explained by Functional Brain Connections

The stronger the connection between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and temporal-parietal junction, the less likely people are to punish others for selfish deeds.