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Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·November 7, 2017·6 min read

Higher Estrogen Levels Linked to Increased Alcohol Sensitivity in Brain’s Reward Center

Neurons in the ventral tegmental area, an area of the brain considered to be the reward center, fire more rapidly to alcohol when estrogen levels are elevated, a new study reports. The study may shed light on how alcohol addiction develops in some women.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 16, 2017·3 min read

A New Target For Marijuana

Findings shed light on the effect of marijuana on the developing brain and provide a target for cannabis use disorder.

Image shows a stick and ball model of oxytocin.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 29, 2017·6 min read

How ‘Love Hormone’ Oxytocin Spurs Sociability

Researchers pinpoint the brain circuitry involved in social reward and shed new light on oxytocin's role in social behavior.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·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.

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.

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.