FeaturedNeuroscience·April 16, 2022·5 min readA Key Brain Region for Substance Use Disorders Now Has a Searchable Atlas of Distinct Cell PopulationsResearchers identified 16 distinct cell populations in the ventral tegmental area, a brain area involved in dopamine neurotransmission involved in reward-directed behaviors.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·October 16, 2017·3 min readA New Target For MarijuanaFindings shed light on the effect of marijuana on the developing brain and provide a target for cannabis use disorder.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·October 25, 2016·6 min readActivating Certain Neurons May Spur Recovery From General AnesthesiaUsing optogenetics to activate dopamine receptors in the ventral tegmental area could help people regain consciousness following general anesthesia, researchers report.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·March 10, 2017·7 min readAlcoholism May Be Caused by Dynamical Dopamine ImbalanceResearchers have identified a potential mechanism for the development of alcoholism.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·September 2, 2021·4 min readBeyond Dopamine: New Reward Circuitry DiscoveredResearchers have identified a new reward system in the brain. The study found long-range GABA neurons from the ventral tegmental area to the ventral nucleus accumbens shell are engaged in reward and reinforcement behaviors. This GABAergic projection inhibits cholinergic interneurons.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·September 5, 2019·4 min readBrain circuit connects feeding and mood in response to stressA new study identifies a novel neural network regulating feeding and mood in response to chronic stress. Inhibiting the POMC to ventral tegmental area circuit increases body weight and food intake while reducing depressive symptoms in mouse models.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·April 27, 2016·4 min readBrain Circuit That Controls Binge Drinking IdentifiedResearchers have identified a neural circuit between two brain areas that appears to control binge drinking.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·September 5, 2016·6 min readBrain Circuit That Drives Sleep Wake State and Sleep Preparation Behavior IdentifiedResearchers have identified a brain circuit that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·May 19, 2019·3 min readBrain network activity can improve in epilepsy patients after surgeryFunctional connectivity problems associated with temporal lobe epilepsy appear to improve after surgery.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·June 10, 2021·4 min readBrainfood: Researchers Find Brain Area Associated with Craving ProteinStudy reveals the role the ventral tegmental area of the brain plays in craving protein-rich foods.Read More
FeaturedGenetics·January 13, 2016·5 min readDecreasing Nicotine Consumption by Flipping a Molecular ‘Switch’Researchers have discovered a lipid that may act as a 'switch' to increase or decrease the motivation to consume nicotine.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·May 1, 2014·3 min readDelving Deep into the BrainResearchers use MRI sensor to map neural activity with molecular precision.Read More