Articles tagged with Behavioral Neuroscience
Scientists have manipulated brain wiring responsible for reward-seeking behaviors using optogenetics, a technique that can tweak microcircuitry with millisecond precision. The study found that targeting the connection between the amygdala and nucleus accumbens may represent potential treatments for addiction and other neuropsychiatric ...
Researchers at Harvard Medical School identified a single compound found in carnivore urine that triggers an instinctual avoidance response in mice and rats, providing crucial tools to study the neural circuitry associated with innate behavior. The discovery reveals a key role for volatile chemicals in predator-rodent interactions.
Researchers found that BPA-exposed male deer mice are less desirable to females, perform poorly on spatial navigation tasks, and exhibit random trial-and-error strategies. The study suggests that exposure to BPA during human development could be damaging to behavioral and cognitive traits unique to each sex.
Researchers found a weakened ability to sync brain hemispheres in toddlers with autism, which could lead to earlier diagnoses and treatment. The study used fMRI scans on sleeping toddlers and identified language areas with reduced synchronization.
Researchers at Purdue University found that rats consuming fat substitutes gained weight and developed more fatty tissue compared to those on a regular high-fat diet. The study suggests that using fat substitutes as part of a long-term weight loss strategy may not be effective due to disrupted taste-calorie relations.
A new study found that the sex differences in the brains of songbirds vary according to their social status. Contrary to previous assumptions, dominant males' larger brain areas controlling song behaviour do not explain their dominance. Instead, gene activity and neural connections play a more significant role
A study at the University of Cambridge found that compulsions lead to obsessions, challenging the traditional understanding of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The research provides insight into the debilitating repetitive behavior of OCD and could lead to more effective treatments.
A longitudinal twin study found no correlation between early sexual initiation and later sexual risk-taking, contradicting the long-held assumption that waiting for sex until marriage reduces risk. The study suggests that genetic and environmental factors contribute to early sexual initiation and risk-taking.
Scientists at Ruhr-University Bochum find that passive stimulation can induce lasting changes in human behavior and perception, opening new perspectives for intervention and treatment of visual perceptual disorders. Visual perception is impaired after slow stimulation but improved with rapid stimulation.
Researchers at Caltech have found a specific brain region, the dorsal striatum, to be involved in reinforcement-learning behaviors and the gambler's fallacy. This discovery provides insight into how people make decisions in real-world situations.
A new study found that Latinas who endure domestic violence during or within a year of pregnancy are five times more likely to experience postpartum depression. The researchers suggest that recent exposure to intimate partner violence is a stronger predictor of postpartum depression than prenatal depression.
Researchers at Tufts University discovered that astrocytes play a crucial role in regulating circadian rhythms and sleep patterns. The study found that disrupting astrocyte function in fruit flies led to altered daily rhythms, indicating the importance of these glial cells in controlling circadian behavior.
Researchers found that ghrelin enhances odor detection and exploratory sniffing in both rats and human subjects. The study suggests a link between ghrelin and the natural regulation of metabolism and body weight.
A new study by researchers at the University of Michigan Health System has uncovered a link between genetic variations associated with alcoholism, impulsive behavior and a region of the brain involved in craving and anxiety. Variations in the GABRA2 gene contribute to the risk of alcoholism by influencing impulsive behaviors.
A new study suggests that males can learn to recognize subtle fertility signals in female rhesus macaques by spending more time with them. The research found that over 80% of males could distinguish between pictures of the same female's face during ovulation and before, indicating a possible key role for experience in reading others' m...
Research finds smaller amygdala and insula regions in teenagers with conduct disorder, a psychiatric condition characterized by aggressive and antisocial behavior. The findings challenge the view that adolescence-onset CD is solely caused by imitating peers, suggesting a potential neurological basis for the condition.
Researchers found that gut bacteria influence how the brain is wired for learning and memory, leading to anxiety-like behavior. The study also suggests that targeting the immune system and gut function could lead to new therapies for psychiatric illnesses.
A study by researchers at New York University found overlapping neurological mechanisms between goal-directed actions and habitual behaviors. The findings suggest that the brain's systems for different behaviors are more intertwined than previously thought, paving the way for addressing addiction and similar maladies.
Research reveals prenatal exposure to nicotine increases vulnerability to nicotine self-administration in adolescent mice, making them more likely to start smoking and susceptible to addictive effects. The study supports the hypothesis that adolescents with prenatal nicotine exposure are more prone to nicotine addiction.
Researchers found that individuals who treated for alcohol use disorder and relapsed had thinner cortices in the brain's reward system compared to those who remained abstinent. The study suggests that neurobiological factors play a crucial role in relapse and may be associated with impaired problem-solving, mood, and impulse control.
A miniature, portable PET scanner has been developed to study brain function and behavior in rats while they are awake and moving freely. This breakthrough technology, dubbed RatCAP, uses a wearable design that counterbalances with springs and motion stabilizers, allowing animals significant freedom of movement.
Researchers found that mouse neurons mature in their sense of smell after birth, enabling them to distinguish between their mother's scent, siblings', and home fragrance. This maturation process may provide an evolutionary advantage for altricial species by facilitating learning to identify family members.
A study by McMaster University found that people use voice pitch as a warning sign of future betrayal. Women are drawn to men with lower pitches, while men are attracted to women with higher pitches. This evolutionary mechanism helps protect individuals from infidelity and its associated costs.
Gyorgy Buzsaki and two Hungarian scientists receive the Brain Prize for their work on neuronal circuits in the cerebral cortex. Their research has contributed to a better understanding of clinical conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, anxiety, and dementia.
Researchers find that weak electrical fields in brain help neurons fire together, even if they're not physically connected. The findings suggest an additional form of neural communication through extracellular space.
Researchers used fMRI scans to measure brain activity in response to pro-health messages, finding a positive correlation between neural reactions and successful quitting. The study suggests that brain activity can provide valuable information for behavior change, potentially leading to more effective interventions.
Researchers found that omega-3 deficient mice exhibited disturbed synaptic functions and emotional behaviors, including depression. The study suggests that chronic malnutrition during intrauterine development may influence synaptic activity involved in emotional behavior in adulthood.
Researchers recorded neuron activity in adolescent rat brains during a reward-driven task, showing that teen brains react with erratic excitement above adult levels. This finding could explain why teenagers are more prone to rash behavior, addiction, and mental diseases.
Researchers Jacek Debiec and Regina Sullivan are studying neural circuits to understand how fear is passed from mother to offspring in rats. This research aims to develop early therapeutic remedies for anxiety disorders related to trauma.
Vanderbilt researchers found that pro-inflammatory cytokines can trigger despair-like behavior in mice, similar to human depression. They also discovered a mechanism by which inflammation enhances serotonin reuptake, potentially increasing the risk of mood and anxiety disorders.
A team of scientists identified a set of brain proteins that accounts for over 130 brain diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The study provides a new way to study the evolution of the brain and behavior, and opens paths toward tackling these diseases.
This special section of Perspectives on Psychological Science explores the promises and issues facing neuroimaging, including its potential to reveal the anatomy of mental functions. Researchers discuss the need for more emphasis on cognitive processes and the importance of clear communication with the public.
Researchers have shed light on dopamine's role in the brain's reward system, finding that individual differences in response to environmental cues can fundamentally influence chemical reward patterns. The study provides new insights into compulsive behavior and may lead to preventive tools or treatments for addiction.
New research suggests that exposure to nicotine during pregnancy can lead to a decrease in adult stem cells and alter synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, increasing the risk of behavioral problems such as ADHD. The findings may provide a brain-circuitry mechanism for learning disabilities in children born to smoking mothers.
A new study by Binghamton University researchers suggests that individual differences in sexual behavior could be influenced by genetic variation, particularly the dopamine receptor D4 polymorphism. This gene is linked to sensation-seeking behavior, such as alcohol use and gambling, and may contribute to promiscuity and infidelity.
Researchers found that fruit flies will attack females who smell and taste like males, and will court males with female-like patterns of behavior. By manipulating a gene that governs pheromonal profiles and behavioral cues, the study reveals the importance of behavioral feedback in aggression.
New research reveals that pheromonal cues alone can label another fly as a competitor, leading to male aggression. Behavioral cues also play a crucial role, with males attacking both male- and female-like flies.
The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation has announced seven grants totaling $9.4 million for scientific research in neuroscience and cellular engineering. The grants will be awarded to researchers at universities and laboratories in Washington, California, Massachusetts, and New York, with a focus on advancing the study of aggression, neur...
Researchers found that dim light exposure caused physical changes in the brains of female Siberian hamsters, including a reduced density of dendritic spines in the hippocampus. This is associated with increased depressive-like behaviors and may be linked to melatonin production.
Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) show deficits in both delay and trace eyeblink conditioning, a finding that could aid in assessing and diagnosing FAS. Researchers tested 63 children on delay conditioning and found that 33% met the criteria compared to 79% of control group members.
Karl Deisseroth receives $10,000 HFSP Nakasone Award for his groundbreaking research on optogenetics, a technique that uses light to manipulate neuronal activity.
A Johns Hopkins University study found that hard work can enhance appreciation for food, even low-calorie options. Mice trained to navigate obstacle courses preferred harder-to-obtain snacks more, indicating that effort may change how good food tastes.
Researchers have found that individuals can rapidly and voluntarily control neurons deep in their brains, allowing them to manipulate images on computer screens. The study uses epilepsy patients with electrodes implanted in their brains to record individual neuron activity in response to specific images.
A study by University of Cambridge researchers has revealed that an anti-obesity drug changes the way the brain responds to high-calorie foods in obese individuals. The drug sibutramine reduced activity in two regions of the brain involved in appetite control and eating behaviour, leading to greater weight loss.
Researchers at UTHealth's Center for Neurobehavioral Research on Addiction will use the five-year, $11 million grant to study the behavioral neurobiology of cocaine dependence. The project aims to translate this knowledge into effective pharmacotherapies for the disorder through novel medications and imaging methodologies.
A new study published by the American Psychological Association found that new mothers' brains grew in areas linked to motivation and behavior, particularly in those who showed intense affection for their babies. The researchers suggest that this growth may be due to hormonal changes after birth, which trigger active brain building.
Researchers at Concordia University have discovered how the brain chemical dopamine regulates daily sleeping and eating patterns by altering PER2 protein activity. The study, published in Journal of Neuroscience, may have implications for individuals with Parkinson's disease who experience disrupted 24-hour rhythms.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine propose a new theory that links depression to chronic brain inflammation. According to this theory, depression is an adaptive response to stress and trauma, which can lead to neural remodeling and malfunctions.
A study by Prof. David Eilam and his team found that group members display the same level of anxiety when exposed to a common threat, regardless of individual differences. This result has implications for helping clinicians better treat victims of trauma or terror, such as in the case of the 9/11 attacks.
Researchers analyzed killings and rocket attacks between Israel and Palestine, finding that each side's attacks lead to violent retaliation from the other. This challenges claims of a one-sided conflict, suggesting both Israelis and Palestinians play a role in perpetuating violence.
A new study found that mice subjected to early weaning and maternal separation exhibited long-lasting hyperactivity and anxiety. The researchers hope to use this model to investigate the effects of childhood neglect on human behavior.
Researchers discovered that combining practice with additional sensory stimulation can lead to significant learning gains. This approach may reduce the effort required for learning and improve therapies for children with language learning impairments or adults seeking to enhance perceptual abilities.
Adolescents from Latin American and Asian backgrounds experience more discrimination than peers from European backgrounds. Discrimination impacts their grade-point averages, health, and self-esteem.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that massage alters the immune response in healthy adults, decreasing stress hormones and increasing white blood cell counts. The study, which involved 53 participants, showed significant changes in lymphocyte numbers and percentages.
A team of Caltech researchers discovered that consumers assign higher values to goods they can physically interact with. In experiments, subjects bid an average of 50% more for tactile experiences than visual or text-based presentations.
Parkinson's disease affects brain circuitry that impacts cognitive functions like planning and decision-making. Researchers discovered patients can perform automated tasks better than non-patients, yet struggle to adapt to changing behaviors.
A University of Nevada professor has conducted a six-year study revealing short-range over-connectivity in the outer layer of the brain's cortex in individuals with autism disorders. This finding supports early intervention behavioral therapies and may aid in sculpting out abnormal connections.
Researchers found that human behavior adapts to varying levels of uncertainty, trading off between input and output. This study demonstrates the existence of input-output trade-offs in human information processing.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found a connection between MeCP2 protein levels and psychostimulant-induced changes in adult mouse brains. The study suggests that MeCP2 may play a role in regulating the rewarding properties of stimulant drugs, which could lead to new treatments for addiction.
A study by Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience found that people's brains respond differently to others' actions based on their perceived intentions. When generous behavior is framed as benefiting the group, participants showed a stronger neural response, indicating a greater liking for the action.