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striatum

·February 27, 2025·5 min read

Research Rewrites Striatum’s Role in Action and Movement

A new study challenges the long-held belief that the striatum is responsible for selecting actions. Researchers found that instead of making decisions, the striatum and motor cortex work together to specify movement details, such as how to reach for an object.

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·August 2, 2024·4 min read

Study Reveals Dopamine’s Limited Role in Rapid Neural Activity

A recent study has found that dopamine signals have a minimal impact on rapid neural activity in the striatum, challenging existing theories about dopamine's role in brain signaling. Using advanced optical neural chip technology, researchers observed that dopamine signals within normal physiological ranges do not significantly affect neural processing.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 30, 2023·4 min read

Brain Waves: Acetylcholine and Dopamine’s Synchronized Dance in Striatum

Researchers unveiled a groundbreaking discovery in brain chemistry. They identified wave-like patterns of the neurochemical acetylcholine in the striatum, a region vital for motivating actions.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 12, 2023·5 min read

The Brain’s Support Cells May Play a Key Role in OCD

A newly discovered cellular mechanism that involves astrocytes, as well as neurons, appears to be involved in repetitive behaviors and OCD.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·February 21, 2023·4 min read

Brain Circuit Involved in Fentanyl Abuse and Relapse Identified

Fentanyl enhances direct pathway medium spiny neurons activity in the striatum. During withdrawal from the opioid, inhibitory signals from direct pathway medium spiny neurons to dopaminergic neurons become enhanced. The enhanced suppression of dopaminergic neurons contributes to the negative emotions associated with fentanyl withdrawal. Inhibiting the direct pathway medium spiny neurons can reduce withdrawal symptoms and associated anxiety behaviors.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 7, 2023·5 min read

Differences in Dopamine Signals in Patients With History of Alcohol Use Disorder

The connection between dopamine and counterfactual information, or notions of relief and regret, is altered in those with alcohol use disorder.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·January 20, 2023·6 min read

How Huntington’s Disease Affects Different Neurons

Researchers have identified how two different populations of neurons in the striatum are affected differently in Huntington's disease. The neurodegeneration of one of these populations leads to motor defects while damage to the other population located in striosomes may account for mood disorders associated with the early stages of Huntington's.

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·November 30, 2022·4 min read

A Crucial Role of Brain’s Striatum Cilia in Time Perception

Destruction or removal of the cilia in the striatum impairs time perception and judgment, new research suggests. The findings could have implications for a range of diseases including schizophrenia, ASD, and Parkinson's.

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Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·August 25, 2022·4 min read

Investigating the Role of Dopamine Circuits in Habit Formation

Dopamine neurons connect subregions of the striatum that contribute to habit formation. The findings shed new light on how habits are formed, and how they can be broken.

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·July 18, 2022·7 min read

Observing Memory Formation in Real Time

Study reveals how motor memories are formed and how they remain persistent. The findings may help illuminate the root cause of motor disorders like Parkinson's disease.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 26, 2022·3 min read

Synaptic Connectivity of a Novel Cell Population in the Striatum

Researchers characterize a novel neural population within the striatum that appears to be responsible for the interplay between acetylcholine and GABA.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 10, 2022·6 min read

Psychopaths Are More Likely to Have a Larger Striatum

Neuroimaging study reveals those with psychopathy have a 10% larger striatum than non-psychopaths. Researchers say the increased size of the striatum, a brain area associated with cognitive and social functions, may account for a higher likelihood of impulsive behaviors and increased need for stimulation often associated with psychopathy. Additionally, researchers suggest there may be an element of heredity in the neural anatomy, adding support to the neurodevelopmental perspective of psychopathy.