Articles tagged with Behavioral Neuroscience
Researchers have discovered a subcellular mechanism by which the brain classifies threat levels and decides when to escape, involving connections between two brain regions. The 'threshold computation' process is weak and unreliable, but becomes sufficient when threat levels rise, enabling animals to make instinctive decisions.
A new study by Dickinson College researchers found that estradiol, a naturally occurring female sex hormone, can contribute to anxiety-like behavior in mice withdrawing from methamphetamine. This suggests the hormone may exacerbate drug relapse in women by worsening anxiety-related symptoms during withdrawal.
A recent study published in Biology of Sex Differences found no significant association between cannabis use and suicidal behavior in people with psychiatric disorders. However, the study did suggest that heavy cannabis use may increase risk of suicidal behavior in men.
A study by Hiroshima University found a link between the protein RGS8 and depression behaviors in mice. RGS8 may be a promising candidate for developing new antidepressant drugs.
Researchers identified a neural strategy that enables the brain to rapidly select and perform different mental operations. The brain uses a combination of internal cues and external inputs to control movement times flexibly, allowing for novel computations on the fly.
Researchers found that binding to MUNC 13-1 reduces tolerance to alcohol, making it harder to become addicted. By inhibiting this protein, a pill could be developed to reduce the formation of tolerance and alleviate alcoholism.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet discovered a previously unknown group of brain cells responsible for initiating and organizing aggressive behavior in mice. By stimulating or inhibiting these cells, the team was able to control aggression and even invert hierarchical status between dominant and submissive males.
Researchers manipulated brain activity and stress hormone levels to control self-inflicted bite wounds in rats, identifying key brain regions involved in self-injurious behavior. The study provides new insights into the regulation of compulsive self-biting and its relationship with stress and reward processing.
Researchers studied rats' performance in a cognitive effort task, finding that brain regions involved in emotional responses and translating emotions into actions play key roles in decision-making. The study's findings have implications for understanding psychiatric disorders associated with defects in decision making.
New technology tracks brain cell interactions in mice, shedding light on neuronal activity and potential insights into brain disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. The device captures three-dimensional images of neurons flashing on and off as they communicate with each other.
A study published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience found that people are willing to sacrifice themselves for others, consider victim age, and swerve onto sidewalks to minimize lives lost, contradicting ethically acceptable behavior and political guidelines. Researchers aim to initiate discussions on how self-driving vehicles sho...
A new study from Columbia University uses an AI algorithm to analyze the full range of behaviors exhibited by the tiny pond-dwelling creature Hydra. By comparing its movements to neural firing patterns, researchers hope to gain insights into how its nervous system works.
A new NIA Research Centers Collaborative Network will foster interdisciplinary aging research through conferences, pilot programs, and web-based resources. The network brings together six NIA center programs to address common issues affecting older adults.
Researchers at KAIST have identified a neural circuit in the hypothalamus governing obsessive behavior towards non-food objects in mice. The MPA-PAG circuit modulates object craving and facilitates hunting behavior, allowing for controlled mammalian behavior with optogenetics.
Scientists have identified distinct subclasses of pyramidal cells in the subiculum, a region crucial for memory and navigation. These subclasses are associated with processing local and global cues, shedding light on the neural mechanisms underlying spatial recognition.
Researchers discovered that dopamine drives animals to avoid unpleasant situations, including electric shocks. This finding expands the role of dopamine in aversively motivated behaviors and sheds light on brain disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. The study also highlights the potential benefits of i...
Researchers isolated striosome neuron activity using optical neural imaging technology to shed light on their role in reinforcement learning. The study found that striosomal neurons fire more actively in response to odor cues associated with water rewards, indicating they are involved in anticipating the outcome of a stimulus.
A study by UCLA researchers found that sedentary behavior is a significant predictor of thinning in the medial temporal lobe, a region critical for memory formation. Regular physical activity, even at high levels, is insufficient to offset the harmful effects of prolonged sitting.
Researchers have identified a network of brain cells that orchestrate parental behavior in mice, including hormonal changes and altered social behaviors. The discovery could one day help develop treatments for postpartum depression and other related conditions.
A study using electroencephalography found that brain activity in the precuneus region of the parietal cortex plays a crucial role in detecting changes in natural sounds. Participants who were exposed to a longer sound stimulus reacted faster and identified changes more accurately.
A study by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University has established a link between inflammation in pregnant women and the way the newborn brain is organized into networks. The results may provide promising avenues to explore treatments with potential to change negative impacts on newborn brain function.
Mice fed on high-fat or chocolate-based diets exhibit abnormal feeding behaviors such as snacking and bingeing. The study reveals that extended access to hypercaloric diets impairs control of food seeking behavior, leading to negative effects on learning, motivation, and behavioral flexibility.
Researchers found that a specific set of brain cell signals, involving dopamine and estrogen receptor alpha, trigger a mother's instinct to retrieve her offspring. The study's findings may explain human maternal behaviors like breastfeeding and could lead to new ways to support mothers with infant care challenges.
Researchers used a novel barcode-based tracing method to map the projection patterns of individual neurons in the visual cortex. The study found that most primary visual cortex neurons distribute information to multiple downstream areas, rather than projecting to a single target.
The 2018 Canada Gairdner Award laureates made significant discoveries in genomic imprinting and optogenetics, impacting human development and disease. Their work has led to a deeper understanding of gene expression, developmental biology, and neurological disorders.
Researchers propose a new concept to uncover connections between brain regions and cognitive functions, using a bottom-up approach. Recent advances in statistical methodology and brain imaging data provide the basis for this new method, which could help reveal the core functions of brain areas.
Research elucidates the neural basis of complex altruistic behavior, discovering two brain circuits that govern moral decisions in war veterans. The study used CT scans and an altruistic decision task to map brain damage and behavior, finding correlations between specific brain areas and punishment or donation behaviors.
Researchers discovered a highly specific neural circuit in mice that responds to hunger to create an analgesic effect, suppressing inflammatory pain and allowing the animals to seek food. The study found that acute pain can also suppress hunger, suggesting a hierarchy of needs prioritizing survival behaviors.
A new study reveals that rodents possess advanced object recognition strategies, comparable to those of primates. The research demonstrates the existence of rodent-specific recognition methods based on specific features and their spatial relationships.
Researchers identified the nerve cells responsible for a fly's escape response, providing clues into comparable survival mechanisms in humans. The study's findings shed light on conditions like allodynia, where gentle touch triggers pain-like sensations.
Researchers use optogenetic methods to control songbird neurons, prompting birds to change specific syllables in their songs. The study provides insight into how the brain guides the learning of vocal behaviors in humans.
Researchers found a brain circuit in the primary visual cortex that combines head and visual movement signals, enabling appropriate behavioral responses. This circuit involves the retrosplenial cortex, which encodes spatial navigation information.
A new study suggests that serotonin enhances active persistence in a task, even in the face of uncertainty. This challenges previous ideas about serotonin's role in behavior and may help understand depression treatment.
A new study by Duke University neuroscientists used electrical brain activity to predict depression vulnerability in mice, finding different networks of brain activity were linked to depression-like symptoms. The results may lead to a predictive test for mental illnesses like depression and could inform treatment strategies.
Researchers have discovered that bonobo and chimpanzee gestures share multiple meanings, with many gestures having similar functions across the two species. The study, published in PLOS Biology, defines the meaning of each bonobo gesture by analyzing reactions and satisfaction levels.
A study by the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona finds that D-galactose affects male and female brains differently as they age. In high doses, it accelerates ageing in males, while females experience alterations in learning and spatial memory. However, low doses show positive effects in males, including improved learning and memory.
A new study at the University at Buffalo aims to measure the effects of PTSD symptoms on attention and cognitive control in police officers. The research, led by Janet Shucard, will examine brain structure and function in police officers using electrophysiological activity and psychological interviews.
Texas A&M researchers discovered that inducing persistent changes in drinking behavior by manipulating neural connections may hold the key to understanding and treating alcoholism. The study found that reversing these changes could potentially lead to a decrease in alcohol consumption.
A new review article provides a novice-level introduction to applying molecular genomics techniques to study complex behavior. The guide recommends specific tools and collaborations for behavioral ecologists, aiming to bridge the gap between behaviorists and genome annotators.
Researchers found neurons that fire at the beginning and end of a behavior, marking the start and end of habits. The study sheds light on how the brain groups behaviors together into routines.
A Cornell University study has identified genes in the brain that regulate social behaviors in fish, including reproduction, parental care, and aggression. The research found that these genes are expressed during flexible social behaviors, which is crucial for survival and reproduction.
Researchers at RIKEN Brain Science Institute identify a neuronal pathway that enables zebrafish to avoid carbon dioxide. The team found that the trigeminal sensory neurons and the habenula play critical roles in detecting carbon dioxide. These findings shed light on the neurobiology behind avoidance behaviors in animals.
A new study published in eNeuro found that a drug currently being evaluated for depression and suicidal tendencies also alleviates anxiety, fearful behaviors, and memory deficits in rats exposed to blast injuries. The drug, BCI-838, promotes the generation of new brain cells in the hippocampus.
A new Honeycomb Maze design offers a significant improvement over current spatial navigation tests, allowing for systematic analysis of animal decisions. The novel test replicates the advantages of the Morris Water Maze while providing a simple measure of success, demonstrating consistency and reproducibility in control animals.
A study found that prebiotics in infant formula can enhance memory and exploratory behavior in piglets, suggesting a potential link between gut health and brain development. The researchers also discovered changes in volatile fatty acid concentrations and serotonin levels in the brains of pigs fed with prebiotic supplements.
Scientists have discovered that a gene crucial for learning, called Arc, can send its genetic material from one neuron to another by employing a strategy commonly used by viruses. This new process may allow the toxic proteins responsible for Alzheimer's disease to spread through the brain.
A team of researchers has devised a decoy molecule to disrupt the inception and persistence of pain memories. The RNA-based medicine reduces pain-associated behaviors by blocking the creation of pain-signaling proteins.
A study on rats exposed to chronic stress found that cognitive behavioral therapy increases activity in the medial prefrontal cortex, a brain region linked to improved treatment outcomes. The research provides insight into how behavioral therapy can be targeted to improve its effectiveness.
Researchers found zebrafish larvae use 13 different patterns of movement combined in sequences to respond to situations, revealing the 'Lego pieces' of complex behaviors. The study's objective computational method revealed novel features of behavior that are not obvious from human observation.
Researchers at Tufts University have developed a novel preclinical model of postpartum depression, showing the involvement of the HPA axis and specific protein KCC2 in inducing disorder. The study provides empirical evidence that dysregulation of the HPA axis and KCC2 can lead to behaviors mimicking postpartum depression.
Research reveals that brain lesions affecting a specific network involved in moral decision-making are more common among individuals exhibiting criminal behavior. This finding highlights the potential link between brain dysfunction and crime, but also emphasizes that genetic, environmental, and social factors play important roles.
Researchers found a strong bond with family, religion, and land; positivity, work ethic, stubbornness, and self-confidence as common traits. Participants displayed better mental health than younger family members, despite poorer physical health.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that stopping a planned behavior requires fast choreography between brain areas, including the prefrontal cortex and pre-motor cortex. They also identified the importance of timing in making successful changes to plans.
A new study reveals that hyperbaric oxygen therapy may correct behavioral and physical deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease. The treatment reduced plaque pathology by 40% and neuroinflammation by about 40%, improving the condition of mice with the disease.
Researchers found a complicated pattern of neural activity during different time intervals, with neurons adjusting their activity depending on the required interval. The brain doesn't change the trajectory when the interval changes, it just changes the speed at which it goes from the initial state to the final state.
Researchers found that fasudil, a drug that inhibits Rho kinase, promotes goal-directed behavior in mice by pruning dendritic spines, a process involved in learning new behaviors. The treatment showed promise in reducing cocaine self-administration and could be an effective adjunct to cognitive behavioral therapy for treating drug abuse.
New research suggests that stressed newborns may not display typical pain behavior despite increased brain activity in response to pain. The study found a disconnect between brain wave patterns and behavioral responses in stressed babies, highlighting the need for alternative methods to assess infant pain.
A new rat model of drug addiction, requiring daily puzzle-solving for cocaine reward, still produced substance use disorder symptoms. In contrast to traditional models, the rats relied on flexible problem-solving to maintain their addiction, contradicting the widely-held view that habit is necessary.
A special issue in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry explores the intersection of neuroscience and law, highlighting key areas such as addiction, dementia, chronic pain, and behavioral genetics. The research has significant implications for legal proceedings and mental health treatment.
Research in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience found that challenging situations negatively impact the brain's ability to acquire spatial and sequential context. Participants performed poorly on tests after watching clips of positive, negative, and neutral situations.