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Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·October 24, 2017·4 min read

Self Esteem Mapped in the Human Brain

UCL researchers use a new math equation to identify brain signals that explain why our self esteem rises, or lowers, when we find out what others think of us.

This image shows the location of the ventral striatum.

Featured Psychology

·September 18, 2017·5 min read

Why Bad Sleep Doesn’t Always Lead to Depression

Researchers from Duke University report people with poor sleep quality were less likely to experience symptoms of depression if they had higher activity in the ventral striatum.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 22, 2017·6 min read

High Moral Reasoning Associated With Increased Reward System Activity

University of Pennsylvania researchers report people who report higher levels of moral reasoning show increased activity in brain areas associated with reward. The study may improve understanding as to why some people are more likely to engage in prosocial behaviors.

Image shows the professor and two glasses of red wine.

Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 14, 2017·4 min read

Why Expensive Wine Appears to Taste Better

Researchers reveal how our brain's reward system tricks us into thinking a more expensive bottle of wine tastes better.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 4, 2017·4 min read

Neural Link Between Generosity and Happiness Discovered

A new study reveals a neurobiological reason behind why we feel happy when we are being generous. Researchers discovered the connectivity between the temporal parietal junction and ventral striatum, an area of the brain associated with happiness, was enhanced in people who committed to generosity.

Featured Psychology

·July 27, 2017·5 min read

Substance Addiction Changes Mother’s Response to Infant

Substance addiction modifies they way a mother's brain responds to her own child, a new study reports. Researchers found key reward regions of the brain appear to shut down in response to their own infant's smiles in mothers with addictions.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 20, 2017·5 min read

Window to Brain’s Reward System Could Lead to Better Treatments for Alcoholism

Nalmefene blunts the brain's reward pathway in people with alcohol addiction, a new study reports.

Image shows the location of the nucleus accumbens in the brain.

Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·January 3, 2017·5 min read

Gambling Addiction Triggers Same Brain Area as Alcohol and Drug Cravings

Findings suggest brain networks associated with impulse control could be weakened in people with gambling addiction.

Image shows a diagram which includes images of the brain with the NAcc and auditory cortex highlighted.

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 17, 2016·3 min read

How Do the Brains of People Who Don’t Like Music Work?

Researchers explain the neural mechanisms behind a person's lack of sensitivity to music.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 31, 2016·5 min read

Addiction Cravings May Get Their Start Deep in the Right Side of the Brain

A new neuroimaging study links alcohol cravings to the right ventral striatum.

Brain scans with the vmPFC and VS highlighted.

Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·November 20, 2015·4 min read

Reward Circuits Weakened by Inflammation in Depression

Researchers find high level of inflammation markers in the blood of people with depression. The research indicates persistent inflammation affects brain areas associated with the more stubborn symptoms of depression.