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ventral tegmental area

·July 18, 2017·3 min read

Low-Dose Diazepam Can Increase Social Competitiveness

Researchers from EPFL have uncovered how diazepam, a common anxiolytic, can increase mitochondrial activity in neural pathways associated with motivation.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·March 17, 2017·6 min read

The Genes and Neural Circuits Behind Autism’s Impaired Sociability

Researchers have identified genetic and neural networks that could contribute to impaired sociability in some forms of autism.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·March 10, 2017·7 min read

Alcoholism May Be Caused by Dynamical Dopamine Imbalance

Researchers have identified a potential mechanism for the development of alcoholism.

Image shows a dad and toddler looking at the sea.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 17, 2017·5 min read

How Dads Bond With Toddlers

According to a new study, fathers given a boost of oxytocin expressed increased activity in brain areas associated with empathy and reward when viewing photos of their small children.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 30, 2017·4 min read

Illuminating the Neurons of Social Attraction

Optogenetics and brain imaging techniques allow researchers to identify a small cluster of neurons in the hypothalamus that trigger attraction, a new study reports.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·January 10, 2017·5 min read

Revealing The Connection Between Female Estrogen Cycle and Cocaine Addiction

According to a new study, cocaine has the most potent effects on the female brain when estrogen levels are at their highest.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 6, 2016·4 min read

Stressed Out Rats Consume More Alcohol

A new study explains the effects of stress on increased alcohol consumption due to changes in the brain's reward center.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 25, 2016·6 min read

Activating Certain Neurons May Spur Recovery From General Anesthesia

Using optogenetics to activate dopamine receptors in the ventral tegmental area could help people regain consciousness following general anesthesia, researchers report.