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serotonin

·January 11, 2022·4 min read

Sleep Deprivation Increases Serotonin 2a Receptor Response in Brain

Sleep deprivation increases the levels of serotonin 2A neurotransmitter receptors within 6 - 8 hours. Abnormal serotonin 2A receptor function is associated with hallucinations, cognitive impairment, and is linked to psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.

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·November 23, 2021·3 min read

Psilocybin Reduces Relapses for Those With Alcohol Use Disorder

Psilocybin can restore mGluR2 levels in the prefrontal cortex, and this leads to a reduced risk of relapse for those with alcohol use disorder.

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·November 8, 2021·4 min read

Expectations and Dopamine Can Affect Outcome of SSRI Antidepressant Treatment

The placebo effect combined with dopamine levels can determine whether symptoms of depression and social anxiety will improve in patients prescribed SSRI antidepressants. Researchers found the positive effect of the medications was four times higher in patients with high expectations the treatment would work compared to those with lower expectations.

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·October 18, 2021·8 min read

Serotonin Stabilizes Social Memories

Serotonin-producing neurons in the brainstem release serotonin throughout the brain during moments of novel social encounters. The release of serotonin stimulates neurons in the medial septum via a subtype of serotonin-sensitive receptor molecules. Blocking the release of this receptor molecule prevents the formation of new social memories.

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·October 9, 2021·5 min read

Amyloid Beta and Serotonin May Be Keys to Predicting Who Develops Late-Life Depression

Increased accumulation of amyloid beta and a reduction of serotonin in the brains of older adults was associated with higher risks for developing depression later in life.

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·October 4, 2021·5 min read

Intestinal Drug Shown to Boost Memory and Cognition

Prucalopride, a medication commonly prescribed to treat constipation, may help improve memory and cognition. People prescribed the drug for 6 days performed better in memory tests and had increased activity in brain areas associated with cognition.

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·September 16, 2021·3 min read

Drug Targets for Memory Enhancement

Researchers identified specific receptors for acetylcholine that reroute information flow through memory circuits in the hippocampus. The findings could have implications for the development of drugs to help enhance or protect memory from diseases associated with cognitive decline.

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·September 8, 2021·4 min read

Clues to Brain Health May Lie in the Gut

Researchers evaluate the role of the gut-brain axis in relation to health conditions and report on how gut-based interventions could provide relief for some mental health disorders.

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·August 29, 2021·2 min read

Cholesterol Flags Violence Risk in People With Schizophrenia

Lower cholesterol levels may put people with schizophrenia at higher risk for violent behaviors, including self-harm and suicide. Researchers say lower cholesterol levels make brain cells less sensitive to serotonin, increasing symptoms of depression, impulsivity, and aggression.

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·August 23, 2021·5 min read

Prozac Changes Fat Composition of the Brain

Prozac reduced polyunsaturated fatty acid lipid concentrations in the brains of juvenile macaque monkeys.

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·August 17, 2021·4 min read

Histamine and Inflammation Could Be Key Players in Depression

A new study adds to the growing body of research linking inflammation to depression. Researchers found the molecule histamine directly inhibits the release of serotonin in the brain by attaching to inhibitory receptors on serotonin neurons in mice.

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·July 27, 2021·6 min read

Eating for Hunger or Pleasure? Regulating These Feeding Behaviors Involves Different Brain Circuits

The brain regulates both eating for hunger and pleasure through serotonin-producing neurons in the midbrain, but the different types of feeding are wired by independent circuits that do not influence the other type of feeding.