Articles tagged with Behavioral Neuroscience
Researchers discovered that specific brain circuits in the basal ganglia signal the start and stop of new actions, a process compromised in Parkinson's and Huntington's patients. Genetic manipulation of these circuits in mice impaired sequence learning, echoing human patients' struggles with movement initiation and termination.
A study by neuroscientists at USC found that volunteers practicing a challenging arm movement with related tasks showed better retention of the skill. The prefrontal cortex was necessary for consolidating the memory, while constant practice focused on a single task did not retain the skill as well.
A new study from the University of Sheffield found that social and psychological factors have a bigger impact on women's sex lives during menopause than previously thought. The research suggests that individual experiences vary greatly, with external factors like relationships and care-giving playing a significant role.
A Concordia University study evaluated the effect of drugs on sexual behavior, finding that many recreational drugs can cause a loss in libido. The study, which reviewed data from over 100 studies, suggests that drugs and sex don't mix well.
A recent study by UCL scientists found that the brain is intrinsically unreliable due to high levels of noise. The researchers proposed a rate code strategy as a possible solution to this problem.
Researchers found that Parkinson's patients with impulsive-compulsive spectrum behaviors have impaired self-control, but normal motivation. They prefer smaller immediate payments over larger delayed ones.
A study has found that genetic mutations in three genes may predispose individuals to suicidal behavior. The research identified a model able to differentiate between people with and without a history of suicide attempts using an algorithm based on SNPs from these genes.
Researchers identified Clock and cycle genes involved in the interaction between feeding and sleep behaviors. The study found that these genes aid in sleep under food deprivation conditions, highlighting the complex role of genetics in behavioral decision-making.
New research from a University of Texas at Austin psychologist identifies biological motivations behind adolescent risk-taking behavior. The study found that teenagers' brains are overactive in the mesolimbic dopamine system, driving them to seek rewards and engage in risky behaviors.
A new investigation reveals that anger provokes profound changes in the state of mind of individuals, as well as psychobiological parameters. Heart rate, arterial tension, and testosterone increase, but cortisol levels decrease. The study also highlights the complexity of emotions, with anger exhibiting unique patterns.
Mental disorders are likely caused by brain circuit abnormalities, resulting from developmental processes. Genetics play a crucial role in mental illness, with high heritability rates for conditions like autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
A new study of 9/11 survivors and victims' family members found that on-site psychiatrists can alleviate early trauma symptoms and reduce PTSD. Psychiatrists provided immediate aid to 848 patients in just over two months, with the most common symptoms including sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression.
A recent University of Southampton study found that small doses of alcohol can relieve withdrawal symptoms in C. elegans worms, which exhibit similar behaviors to humans. This treatment approach may also worsen dependency, highlighting the need for new ideas in treating alcoholism.
A study from the University of Cambridge found that problem gamblers' brains react more intensely to near misses than casual gamblers. This reaction is linked to increased activity in brain regions associated with reward and learning, and may contribute to addictive behavior.
Researchers have discovered a link between stress, anxiety, and metabolic changes that can lead to type 2 diabetes. The study found that increasing the activity of a single gene in the brain causes mice to exhibit anxious behavior and develop symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes.
Scientists have discovered a hidden neuronal circuit in the worm Caenorhabditis elegans that modulates sensory perception under stress. This work suggests that mechanisms coupling hypoxia, serotonin, and neuropeptide signaling also modify behavior in mammals.
The Semel Institute has established a new Integrative Phenotyping Center to study genetic and environmental factors in neuropsychiatric disorders. The center will enable large-scale phenotyping studies, including personality, cognition, and brain activity analysis.
Researchers at Jena University found that verbal stimuli can activate the pain matrix in the brain, activating areas that process pain. The study used functional magnetic resonance tomography (fMRT) to investigate how healthy subjects process words associated with experiencing pain.
Researchers taught goldfish to associate a light flash with a shock, inducing fear. However, fish injected with lidocaine in the cerebellum showed no fear and returned to normal behavior after the anesthesia wore off. This study suggests that understanding brain processes related to fear may lead to human phobia cures.
Researchers discover the 'doublesex' gene plays a crucial role in shaping fruit fly brain architecture and behavior, leading to distinct male and female neural circuits. The study sheds light on sex determination and coordination of sex-specific physiology in fruit flies.
Researchers at Caltech and UCSD discovered a way to induce natural reproductive behavior in medicinal leeches by injecting a specific hormone, hirudotocin. The hormone mimics the action of human hormones vasopressin and oxytocin in regulating mating behavior.
New research from Vanderbilt University reveals that our brains coordinate goal-directed and stimulus-driven attention when surprised. The inferior frontal junction plays a primary role in coordinating these two forms of attention, which may limit our conscious perception during unexpected events.
Researchers at UC Davis have found a strong association between cognitive deficits and decreased levels of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in patients with schizophrenia. The study suggests that targeting the GABA system may help address cognitive decline in the disorder.
A new study published in Biological Psychiatry suggests that the lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) is a brain region that helps people control their emotional reactions to negative facial expressions from their romantic partners. The LPFC activity was found to predict self-regulation after an interpersonal conflict in daily life.
A new study found that increased activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) among adults with alcohol dependence may indicate less control over drinking behavior. The ACC's role in regulating emotions and decision-making could be critical in understanding the development of addiction.
Research by Adam Waytz et al. reveals that anthropomorphism gives non-human entities moral care, while dehumanization is linked to social connection. The study highlights the complexities of identifying humans in a psychological sense.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that a gene mutation in mice leads to learning problems and obsessive behaviors. The study suggests a potential way to treat repetitive behaviors in humans using a specific drug targeting nerve function abnormalities.
Researchers found that adolescent brains are more sensitive to internal and environmental factors, leading to compulsive behavior. The study suggests that teenage impulsiveness and psychological disorders may stem from this susceptibility.
A study found that stressed mice seek chocolate despite painful consequences, mirroring human compulsive eating behavior. Researchers trained mice with a history of hunger to overcome their fear of certain foods.
A study found that prenatal alcohol exposure can alter the brain's developing pain regulatory system, causing a blunted response to painful events in newborns. Infants exposed to heavy prenatal alcohol had decreased physiological responses and lower stress hormone cortisol levels compared to those with little or no exposure.
A new zebrafish behavior monitoring system has been developed to capture on video and barcode the behavioral responses of fish to chemicals, allowing for rapid identification of new compounds. The system has already identified new chemicals affecting fish behavior and holds promise for treating nervous system disorders.
Researchers found anti-inflammatory agents that increase wakefulness during the day and affect normal sleep/wake cycles. The study suggests a shared neurochemistry between zebrafish and mammals, paving the way for new compounds to regulate sleep and wakefulness in humans.
A new study predicts that the H1N1 virus can spread quickly on planes, particularly in crowded economy classes. Researchers used mathematical modeling to estimate potential infections during long-haul flights and found that two to five infections could occur on a five-hour flight.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University have defined a uniform method to interpret Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), combining emotional-social behavior and four additional domains: memory, perception, and motor behavior. This approach links ASD with other conditions like ADHD.
Researchers suggest that compulsive eating may be a legitimate addiction, sparking a new perspective on weight management. The concept of food addiction shares similarities with other addictive behaviors, including tolerance and withdrawal symptoms.
A new study finds that alcoholics can improve their postural sway with prolonged sobriety, but the improvement may not fully erase the problem of instability. Researchers found that stabilizing factors such as turning on a light or walking with feet apart can help improve standing stability in sober alcoholics.
A study published in Cortex found that synaesthetes can exhibit automatic color experiences when presented with numbers or patterns, regardless of their conscious awareness. The research suggests that learning may contribute to the development of these associations.
Researchers at Tufts University discovered that maternal behavior can stimulate new neuron creation in the brains of adult female rats who have never given birth. The study found increased numbers of new neurons in the subventricular region of the brain in these rats, which exhibited maternal behavior when exposed to foster pups.
Cichlid fish make strategic decisions about group living arrangements based on social rank and predation risks. Larger, bossier groups are preferred over unfamiliar ones for enhanced protection.
A new UCLA study found that most homeless young people return home after leaving, and factors like maintaining relationships with pro-social peers, staying in school, and parental support play a crucial role. The key to returning home appears to be early intervention before family relationships deteriorate.
Researchers discovered that removing the PKCI/HINT1 gene from mice results in anti-depressant and anxiolytic-like behaviors, suggesting its potential role in mood regulation. The study's findings could lead to the development of new diagnostic or therapeutic agents for depression, bipolar disorders, and schizophrenia.
Researchers at UAB used fMRI to analyze the brain's response to surprising sounds, finding activity in the frontal lobe controls emotional expression. The study aims to develop biological markers using fMRI that can help identify and treat PTSD sufferers.
A new study published in Psychology of Women Quarterly found a significant gender-based pay gap among US faculty members, with women earning an average of 30% less than men. The study analyzed salaries at a large American university and controlled for factors such as education level, experience, and rank.
Researchers found that young animals treated with commonly-prescribed mood, pain, and epilepsy drugs developed behavioral abnormalities in adulthood. The study suggests these drugs may predispose to psychiatric disorders later in life.
Researchers uncover positive effects of exercise on Parkinson's disease, depression, and memory. New tools help identify neural similarities between species, shedding light on human-specific faculties and diseases.
A new research center exploring deep brain stimulation for OCD has been established at the University of Rochester Medical Center, thanks to a $10.5 million award from the National Institute of Mental Health. The center will link over 50 researchers studying how DBS affects people with OCD.
Minocycline has been shown to have a neuroprotective effect on neurons by reducing apoptosis and ameliorating behavioral deficits in animal models after a stroke. This study suggests that minocycline could be a new treatment option for acute ischemic stroke, offering hope for patients who currently have limited treatment options.
A study at UCSF has identified networks of nerve cells controlled by estrogen that influence male territorial behavior, challenging the view of single gender-related behaviors.
Eight fellows have been selected for the prestigious fellowship program, which aims to encourage autism research as their chosen career path. The fellows will work with leading scientists and receive research training opportunities in various areas of autism spectrum disorders.
A Rutgers University research team has identified the mechanism that causes learning and memory formation during sleep. Short transient brain events called sharp wave ripples are responsible for consolidating memory and transferring learned information from the hippocampus to the neocortex, where long-term memories are stored.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that nicotine strengthens neuronal connections in the brain, creating memory associations between environmental cues and smoking behavior. This process is thought to underlie why former smokers often experience strong cravings when exposed to triggers such as bars or meals with friends.
Research suggests that red light can impact alertness at night via pathways other than the circadian system, contradicting previous assumptions about blue light's dominance. The study found that moderate levels of red light increase alertness in individuals, making it a viable alternative to blue light for improving nighttime alertness.
Valentin Dragoi, a neurobiology expert at UT Medical School at Houston, has been awarded a four-year, $1.2 million grant to study the signals of populations of neurons in different regions of the cerebral cortex. The project aims to understand how neuronal networks operate in both normal and dysfunctional states.
Rui Costa's team will study the neural mechanisms underlying goal-directed and habit-based decisions using cutting-edge techniques.
A study mapping brain activity networks in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) patients reveals distinct changes in communication between brain areas. AD patients show more random network organization, while FTLD patients display a more ordered structure, challenging the understanding of these diseases.
A new analysis by Jerome Siegel reveals that sleep's primary function is to regulate behavior and increase efficiency, rather than solely for brain maintenance or longevity. Sleep duration varies across species based on factors such as eating needs, migration requirements, and predator avoidance.
Researchers identified 66 genes involved in relapse, including those related to neuroplasticity and learning. The study used a heroin behavioral incubation model to mimic real-life situations that trigger relapse.
Researchers found a common genetic variation linked to aggression and destructive behavior in adults with developmental/intellectual disabilities. The study suggests that this variation may be associated with increased autism severity in individuals with the gene variant, highlighting the need for further research.
Researchers at UCLA have found a new explanation for why placebos work, citing genetics as the key factor. Genes that influence brain reward pathways may modulate the response to placebos, particularly in individuals with major depressive disorder.
A team of experts at Columbia University will conduct the largest ever study on suicide and mental health among military personnel, using $50 million in funding. The study aims to identify risk and protective factors for suicide among soldiers and provide a science base for effective interventions.