A study led by neuroscientists found that oxytocin in the amygdala inhibits a self-defense reaction, allowing mothers to protect their young. The team manipulated oxytocin levels and observed increased defensive behavior when the hormone was inhibited.
Researchers found that the brain separates predictable and unpredictable components of action timing, with distinct regions processing each. The medial prefrontal cortex tracks ideal waiting time based on experience, while the secondary motor cortex adds variability to render decisions unpredictable.
Joseph Paton, a neuroscientist at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, has been awarded a $650,000 grant to further study how the brain processes time. His work aims to understand how internal signals are converted into action, enabling animals to interact with their environment in a more informed and calculated manner.
A new study found that gut bacteria in fruit flies can reprogram the body's nutritional needs to safeguard against nutrient deficiencies. The bacteria induce a metabolic change that mimics protein satiety, altering appetite and fertility.
Researchers at Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown identify apterous neurons as key indicators of female receptivity in fruit flies. The discovery links a female's walking speed to her willingness to mate, with silencing these neurons reducing her receptivity.
New research suggests that serotonin facilitates adaptation to environmental changes, which may indirectly impact mood. Serotonin-producing neurons exhibit a surprise spike in activity when rules are suddenly reversed, signaling altered circumstances.
A new study in mice reveals that serotonin affects motivation, but only when animals are exploring their environment. Increasing serotonin levels transiently reduces locomotive speed, while long-term stimulation triggers a second effect leading to increased global activity.
Researchers discovered a strong behavioural rule, the rule of random attraction, that explains how complex patterns of collective movement emerge in zebrafish as they develop from larvae to adults. Younger fish spend less time applying this rule, resulting in fewer schools, while adults do more, leading to group formation.
An international team of neuroscientists has discovered that neurons coordinate their activity to improve motor control, shedding light on the brain's mechanisms. The findings may lead to better brain-machine interfaces for paralyzed patients.