Latest

serotonin

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 10, 2019·2 min read

How a popular antidepressant drug could rewire the brain

Fluoxetine rearranges nerve fibers in the hippocampus of mice, a new study reports.

This shows a drawing of a mouse and photo of Matcha extract

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 9, 2019·3 min read

Research shows that drinking Matcha tea can reduce anxiety

Matcha tea can help reduce anxiety, a new study reports. Mice given Match extract showed a reduction in anxious behaviors. The calming effects are a result of Matcha activating dopamine and serotonin receptors.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·July 2, 2019·5 min read

Genetic variation linked to response to anxiety could inform personalized therapies

A study of marmoset monkeys reveals a genetic variation of the SLC6A4 repeat region may contribute to anxiety via neurochemical changes in brain areas associated with emotional processing.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 28, 2019·5 min read

Ack! I need chocolate! The science of PMS food cravings

From comfort eating to hormonal levels contributing to a desire for sweets, many studies have investigated why women with PMS often crave certain foods. Researchers explore why food cravings may occur, and what can be done to suppress them for women with premenstrual syndrome.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·June 25, 2019·4 min read

Mechanisms underlying early life stress and irritable bowel syndrome discovered

Mice that experienced early life stress and later developed irritable bowel syndrome had significantly higher levels of intestinal stem cells and enterochromaffin (EC). Additionally, the mice expressed elevated secretion of serotonin as a result of the increased EC cell density.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·June 24, 2019·5 min read

Settling the debate on serotonin’s role in sleep

Serotonin produced by the raphe is critical for sleep in both mice and zebrafish. The firing of neurons in the raphe and the release of serotonin may help the brain build up better sleep pressure. The results may explain why some sleep-related side effects of antidepressants increase serotonin in the brain.

This shows PET scans of a Parkinsons brain

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·June 20, 2019·6 min read

Study reveals roots of Parkinson’s in the brain

Changes in the brain's serotonin system may occur years before Parkinson's disease symptoms begin. Serotonin alterations could be used as a biomarker for Parkinson's disease.

This is a computerized reconstruction of a serotonin molecule

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience Psychology

·June 19, 2019·3 min read

Serotonin linked to somatic awareness, a condition long thought to be imaginary

Somatic awareness, a condition previously believed to be of psychological origin, is connected to a common genetic variant. The mutation leads to the malfunctioning of an enzyme critical for serotonin production.

This shows a diagram of how the drug works

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 3, 2019·3 min read

Diabetes drug alleviates anxiety in mice

Metformin, a common diabetes medication, shows promise for the treatment of anxiety and depression.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 26, 2019·5 min read

Simple test can tell if you’re stressed out

Scientists have developed a new, non-invasive stress test that uses ultraviolet light to measure stress hormone levels in bodily fluids.

This shows a person holding his tummy as if in pain

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·May 7, 2019·7 min read

Study explains why a moody gut often accompanies depression

Mice with a genetic mutation linked to severe depression had impaired ability for neurons in the gut and brain to create serotonin. The reduction of serotonin in the gut led to a deterioration in the gut's lining, slowing the movement of contents through the GI tract and resulting in constipation. However, treatment with 5-HTP increased neurogenesis in the gut, restoring normal function.