Articles tagged with Behavioral Neuroscience
Researchers find the lateral habenula controls sensitivity to the negative effects of drinking alcohol, leading to increased drinking behavior when the region is inactivated. This study provides new insights into addictive behaviors and may help identify individuals at risk of becoming problem drinkers.
Research by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory finds that early-life chronic stress can cause anxiety, depression, and decreased social interaction in adulthood. In contrast, young mice subjected to social defeat stress showed resilience, but still experienced increased aggression as adults.
A 'stop mechanism' was found to regulate drinking behavior by detecting thirst levels and preventing overdrinking. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, identified brain regions that determine the signals to stop drinking, potentially preventing complications from excessive water intake.
Researchers developed a new technique using spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM) to measure human neural networks, showing how neurons grow, organize, and transport materials. The study provides insights into the formation of neural networks and could lead to advancements in understanding diseases like Alzheimer's.
Researchers have created the first maps of neural activity in behaving zebrafish, recording activity from single cells to entire brains. The study reveals stereotyped patterns of activity between individuals, enabling a functional atlas of the brain to be built.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge and MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit have shown that suppressing unwanted memories reduces their unconscious influence on behavior. The study found that suppressing visual memories made it harder for people to later see the suppressed object compared to other recently seen objects.
Researchers at the University of Montreal found that increased psychological distress and depression symptoms are associated with high cortisol levels, while severe burnout is linked to low cortisol concentrations. This study aims to develop more accurate screening tools for mental health professionals.
Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences, a comprehensive pedagogical text, has been recognized with the 2014 Most Promising New Textbook Award. The award acknowledges the book's innovative approach to introducing research methods, integrating statistical analyses and real-world examples.
A collaborative effort has created a standardized nomenclature for the architecture of insect brains, tripling the number of identified structures. This will enable future research on brain function and disease to be more efficient and accurate.
A recent study published in Psychiatry Research found that nearly half of people taking anti-depressants reported experiencing psychological problems, such as suicidal feelings, sexual difficulties, and emotional numbness. The research highlights the need for better awareness and disclosure about these side-effects.
Researchers found that collecting and bleeding horseshoe crabs for biomedical purposes causes short-term changes in their behavior and physiology. The study suggests delaying the blood harvest or improving transportation conditions could help the animals recover and breed again, potentially mitigating population declines.
Researchers discover that the habenula, a brain structure, acts as a switchboard for sensory information, regulating behavior in response to external stimuli. Spontaneous neural activity plays a key role in this process.
The study, published in Science in June 2012 to May 2013, mapped the wiring diagram for the nervous system controlling mating behavior in male roundworms. The research provided a comprehensive map of neural connections and contributed significantly to understanding how animals control complex behaviors.
Researchers have pinpointed areas of the brain that act as an 'arbitrator' between habitual and goal-directed systems. This mechanism ensures optimal control over behavior by weighing the reliability of predictions from each system.
The article 'Not Hardwired: The Complex Neurobiology of Sex Differences in Violence' describes the complex biological mechanisms in the brain that lead to the development of behaviors. Brain structure, function, and connectivity can differ between men and women, affecting how they respond to stressful or abusive triggers.
A new study published in PNAS found that recording the activity of just 50 neurons can accurately capture the behavior of larger neural networks. This challenges decades-long research on response time and accumulator models in psychology and neuroscience.
Researchers have found that neurons in the basal ganglia can signal the concatenation of individual elements into a behavioural sequence. The study's findings suggest that the brain uses a mechanism called chunking to organize memories and actions.
Researchers found that adolescent rats exposed to THC experienced molecular changes and increased motivation to self-administer heroin in their adulthood offspring, highlighting potential long-term effects of marijuana use on future generations.
Research reveals that levels of depression and anxiety among people with severe rheumatoid arthritis are significantly higher than previously reported. The study suggests that routine screening for depression is crucial, as untreated depression can impact treatment outcomes. The researchers propose modifying the current disease activit...
Duke researchers found that neurons in the superior colliculus use two different strategies when responding to visual and auditory stimuli, contradicting previous theories. This discovery opens up a mystery regarding the underlying mechanism of how vision captures sound.
Researchers developed a new paradigm to analyze collective animal behavior using machine learning without tracking individual animals, mirroring human observation. The technique successfully distinguished between species and changes in behavior in response to stimuli.
Rats will help a stranger in distress if they have had prior positive social interactions with the type of unfamiliar individual. This behavior is driven by social experiences and not genetics or kin selection. Rats are able to categorize others into groups and modify their social behavior accordingly.
A unique study of white-throated sparrows found a genetic pathway connecting aggression and parenting behaviors to specific genes, specifically the estrogen receptor alpha (ER-alpha) gene. The research showed that variation in ER-alpha expression predicted behavior in territorial aggression and parenting.
A new study demonstrates that ultrasound directed to a specific region of the human brain can enhance sensory perception. The technique showed significant improvements in distinguishing pins at closer distances and detecting small frequency differences.
Researchers at the University at Buffalo used optogenetics to stimulate dopamine neurons, reducing binge drinking behavior in rats. The technique has potential applications for treating alcoholism, mental illnesses, and neurological diseases.
Researchers identified a gene called Cyfip2 involved in the response to cocaine by comparing closely related mouse strains. The study suggests a potential link between this gene and human cocaine addiction, although further research is needed.
Researchers compared optogenetics and electrical stimulation in nonhuman primates, finding that both techniques increased accuracy in visual decision-making. Optogenetics showed advantages in precision and simultaneous recording of neural activity.
A study published in Cerebral Cortex found that mice raised without a father exhibited impaired social behavior, increased aggression, and altered brain anatomy. The findings suggest that paternal presence during critical growth periods is essential for healthy child development.
Researchers found that occupational therapy using sensory integration (OT-SI) provided better outcomes than standard care for children with autism. OT-SI therapy helps improve processing of sensation, leading to better participation in everyday activities.
Scientists at UCLA have made a breakthrough in understanding the biology of autism by mapping groups of autism-risk genes by function. They found that gene variants are expressed in the developing brain during critical processes, disrupting neural circuits and leading to miswiring between brain regions.
A new monkey study links impulsivity, rewards, and ADHD medication Ritalin, shedding light on the brain's reward processing mechanism. The study found that methylphenidate improved impulsive behavior in monkeys, but did not eliminate it, suggesting a potential link between the drug and temporal discounting.
A study of 1,300 students found that those who trained with Lumosity showed significant improvements in a battery of cognitive assessments. The effects were dose-dependent, with longer training sessions leading to greater gains.
Experiences can modify genes involved in memory formation and drug use, leading to long-term brain changes. This epigenetic phenomenon affects normal development and abnormal processes like depression and psychiatric disease.
Studies show that absence of serotonin receptors during early development leads to highly aggressive behavior in mice, while adolescents exhibit increased impulsivity to danger. The findings have potential applications for treating disorders related to impulsivity and aggression.
A recent study published in PLOS Biology reveals that a majority of rhythmic proteins are produced during two intervals of the circadian cycle, with proteins required for metabolism showing peak production during the day and those required for cell growth at night. This discovery provides new insights into the regulation of protein pro...
A University of Michigan researcher is using neurogenetics and behavioral studies to understand the development and treatment of antisocial behavior in boys. The study found that environment, including social support, moderates the link between over-reactive amygdala responses and anxious behavior.
Research by Véronique Bohbot reveals a direct link between stimulus-response learning and increased substance abuse, particularly smoking, alcohol and cannabis use. A developed striatum is associated with this behavior.
Researchers at Michigan State University developed a simple 'noun-verb' test to measure creativity, finding that those who gave creative answers in the test were indeed the most creative as measured by other methods. The test could help create better educational and training programs to foster creativity.
Khaleel Razak's research aims to develop therapies for age-related hearing problems and Fragile X Syndrome by studying how the brain processes everyday sounds. His lab will investigate neural computations that generate cortical maps underlying sound localization behavior in the pallid bat.
Researchers at Ohio State University discovered a link between newborn infections and later behavior and movement problems. The study found that inflammation in the brain blocks cells from accessing iron needed for brain development, leading to reduced myelination and behavioral impairments.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory identified a class of inhibitory neurons called VIP interneurons, which specifically suppress activation of other inhibitory neurons. These VIP neurons modulate the balance between excitation and inhibition in the cerebral cortex.
Scientists have identified a protective pheromone, ESP22, in the tears of young mice that blocks adult mating behavior. This discovery provides insight into how sensory systems regulate social behavior and could lead to a better understanding of human behaviors.
A team of U-M neuroscientists reports that SIRP alpha plays a critical role in stabilizing the most active synaptic connections between brain cells. This finding may aid research on conditions like autism, schizophrenia, and intellectual disability, which are linked to abnormal synapse function.
A study has found that market bubbles leading to financial crashes may be self-made due to brain processes that help traders predict others' behavior. This research offers insight into the biology of financial decision-making, suggesting that unproductive behaviors can drive cycles of boom and bust.
Researchers from McMaster University found that pregnant women's nesting behavior is an adaptive mechanism to protect and prepare for childbirth. Women exhibit selective company choices and intense cleaning and organizing, peaking in the third trimester.
Researchers found that activating CREM accelerates therapeutic efficacy of current antidepressants, increasing nerve growth in the hippocampus and reducing treatment time to just one or two days. This discovery could lead to faster-acting drug targets for depression.
Scientists have developed a high-speed imaging technique with single-neuron resolution that can record the activity of 70% of nerve cells in a worm's head. This breakthrough allows for detailed maps of how neurons are wired up in the brain and information on how networks interact in real time.
Young people have difficulty learning from bad news, but are more likely to adapt to good news; campaigns targeting them should focus on positive benefits instead of risks
A USCB study reveals that diet experience can alter taste preferences in fruit flies, with changes occurring through a mechanism involving the degradation of TRPL protein and reduction in synaptic connections. Long-term camphor exposure causes a decline in TRPL levels and subsequent increase in taste acceptance.
A recent study published in Current Biology found that the brain represents the space near others in the same way it represents the space near itself. This shared representation could help individuals interact more efficiently and understand social cues more intuitively.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that inner-ear dysfunction can cause neurological changes leading to hyperactivity in mice. The study implicated two brain proteins involved in a signaling pathway that controls movement, providing potential targets for medication.
Researchers discovered a population of neurons in juvenile songbirds that enable the birds to recognize and learn vocal sounds. This finding could provide valuable insights into the neural mechanisms underlying human infant language acquisition.
New findings reveal that inhibitory neurons fire less frequently in young brains, allowing for heightened plasticity and learning. In contrast, adult brains exhibit stronger inhibitory neurons, which can impede learning and make it more difficult to acquire new skills.
Researchers will investigate the neural mechanisms behind empathy, compassion, and cooperation to define their evolutionary development. The project aims to determine if these traits are unique to humans or present in nonhuman primates.
A new Duke University study found that restaurant websites with easy-to-access calorie information can influence customer ordering decisions. Despite this, in-store marketing and psychological factors often override healthy options.
Dr. Deborah T. Gold, a renowned gerontologist, has been awarded the GSA's 2013 Distinguished Mentorship in Gerontology Award for her significant impact on the field. She is recognized for mentoring dozens of students who have gone on to take prominent roles in gerontology.
Researchers at UCLA invented a tool called research maps, which helps neuroscientists quickly scan existing knowledge, plan their next study, and optimize investments. The maps classify information into categories and score the weight of evidence based on criteria such as reproducibility and convergence.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology discovered the cells responsible for processing motion in fruit flies, showing that motion information is processed independently in two separate pathways. The findings highlight the importance of understanding how neurons work together to enable complex behaviors.
A recent study has identified a third brain region, the orbital frontal cortex (OFC), critical for shifting between habitual and goal-directed actions. This discovery has important implications for understanding neuropsychiatric disorders where habit balance is disrupted.
Researchers at Cardiff University have linked hormonal imbalance in the womb to anxiety and possible vulnerability to poor mental health in adults. Changes in placental function have been implicated in emotional behavior and brain gene expression related to this type of behavior.