VTA

·June 2, 2020

Estrogen’s role in the sex differences of alcohol abuse

Estrogen level fluctuations appear to play a role in alcohol use disorder in women. Reducing the number of estrogen receptors in the ventral tegmental area decreased binge drinking behaviors in female mouse models. Read More

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 4, 2020

Exercise boosts motor skill learning via changes in brain’s transmitters

Neurons in the caudal pedunculopontine nucleus, an area of the brain that regulates motor coordination, switch neurotransmitters from acetylcholine to GABA as a result of exercise. The switch appears to provide feedback control that regulates motor coordination and skill learning. Read More

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 9, 2020

Novel role for dopamine that impacts gene expression related to cocaine abuse discovered

Reducing H3Q5dop in rat models of cocaine withdrawal significantly reversed cocaine mediated gene expression changes and reduced cocaine-seeking behaviors. Read More

Featured Neuroscience

·April 6, 2020

Newly identified digestive-brain axis controls food choice

Study reveals a novel learning process orchestrated between the digestive system and brain that compels animals to seek out novel foods. Read More

This shows the chemical structure of dopamine

artificial intelligence deep learning Featured machine learning Neuroscience neurotech

·February 5, 2020

Novelty speeds up learning thanks to dopamine activation

Novelty directly activates the dopamine system and enhances associative learning. The findings have implications for the development of new machine learning technologies and educational strategies. Read More

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 11, 2019

Rave new world: Scientists pry apart party drug’s therapeutic, addictive qualities

Researchers have distinguished two different molecular pathways responsible for addiction and the prosocial feelings generated by MDMA. The findings could lead to novel treatments for psychiatric disorders marked by withdrawal and social awkwardness. Read More

Electrophysiology Featured Neurology Neuroscience pain Psychology

·September 26, 2019

Molecular link between chronic pain and depression revealed

Inhibitory inputs to the neural circuit between the dorsolateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (dlBNST) to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) increase when a person is in chronic pain. This alteration is mediated by enhanced corticotropin-releasing factor signaling within the dlBNST, leading to suppression of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system. The result is depressive mood and anhedonia associated with chronic pain. Read More

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·September 19, 2019

Study finds hub linking movement and motivation in the brain

The lateral septum encodes speed and acceleration information as an animal navigates and learns how to obtain a reward from its environment. Read More

This shows a woman looking at different faces

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 8, 2019

The neurochemistry of social perception

Researchers examined the effects oxytocin and vasopressin had on perceptions of social dominance. Oxytocin increased perception of greater dominance. Neuroimaging revealed the findings were also reflected in changes in brain regions associated with social perception. Read More

Featured Neuroscience

·July 25, 2019

The science behind giving up

Pnoc neurons in the paranigral ventral tegmental area become active when mice seek rewards. Stimulating these neurons with optogenetics promotes avoidance behaviors. Researchers say ventral tegmental area dopamine neuron NOPR expression is necessary to limit reward-seeking behavior. Read More

Featured Neuroscience

·May 22, 2019

Early life exposure to nicotine alters neurons, predisposes brain to addiction later

Mouse study reveals neonatal nicotine exposure primes the ventral tegmental area, making the animals more susceptible to the effects of nicotine when exposed again later in life. Read More