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Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·January 9, 2019·5 min read

Controlling Children’s Behavior with Screen Time Leads to More Screen Time

Study reports children who reward children with screen time often spend more time interacting with their tablets or smartphones than parents who don't.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·January 7, 2019·5 min read

How the Brain Decides Whether to Hold ’em or Fold ’em

Researchers shed light on the neural mechanisms behind risk taking behaviors. The study reveals the decision to 'up the ante', even when faced with long odds, is a result of an internal bias that adds up over time and involves a 'push pull' dynamic between the two hemispheres of the brain.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·November 20, 2018·4 min read

Personality and Mood Affect Brain Response to Personal Choice

Researchers report personality traits and psychological health impact how we value personal control when making decisions. The study reports brain activity in the motivation system is dampened in those with passive personalities and depression when we receive rewards that we have earned or feel in personal control of situations.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 22, 2018·4 min read

Wishful Thinking is Reward

A new study reports the reward system in our brains may affect our judgments.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·October 20, 2018·4 min read

Researchers Find Brain Signal that May Help Us Navigate the Holiday Buffet

Researchers report they have discovered the region of the brain that registers excitement over a preferred food option. The study reports the findings could help develop new therapies and treatments to potentially combat obesity and encourage healthier eating.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 18, 2018·3 min read

The Neuroscience of Envy

A new study provides insight into the neurobiological underpinnings of envy. Researchers have identified a part of the brain that specifically registers when another receives a reward. This affects the subjective value placed on personal resources and rewards.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·September 13, 2018·8 min read

Regret is a Gambler’s Curse

Researchers report the orbitofrontal cortex replays aspects of past decisions, and the main driver of activity in the OFC is regret when it comes to gambling.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 11, 2018·3 min read

Brains of People with Schizophrenia Are Less Reactive to Social Rewards Like Smiling Faces

A neuroimaging study conducted by researchers from UCLA reveals the brains of people with schizophrenia are less sensitive to social rewards than they are to non-social rewards.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 26, 2018·4 min read

Key Brain Circuits for Reward Seeking and Avoidance Behavior Identified

Researchers have identified two subpopulations of neurons in the BNST that connect to separate populations of neurons in the lateral hypothalamus which appear to drive two opposing emotional states; avoidance and reward seeking

Featured Neuroscience

·August 21, 2018·3 min read

‘Compulsivity Circuit’ in Heavy Drinkers Identified

Researchers identify a driving network for compulsivity in those with alcohol use disorders. The study reports heavy drinkers have more activity in the prefronal cortex, insular and striatum, areas of the brain critical for reward and decision making.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 2, 2018·4 min read

Reward and Unease Are Closely Linked in the Brain

Researchers say melanocortin 4 receptors may play a role in unease and reward. The study reports dopamine levels fell in the reward system of mice when the animal experienced something unpleasant. However, in mice lacking the melanocortin 4 receptor, dopamine levels increased slightly following a negative experience.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 26, 2018·3 min read

How Your Brain Decides Between Knowledge and Ignorance

Researchers report the brain's reward network could play an influential role in evaluating the opportunity to gain new information, just as it does to evaluate rewards such as food or financial gain.