Articles tagged with Dopamine
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A new study finds that dopamine is released in response to both pleasurable and unpleasurable experiences, training the brain to avoid painful stimuli. This yin-yang personality of dopamine has significant implications for treating addiction and other mental disorders, including schizophrenia.
Two novel drugs have been found to restore normal behavior in rats lacking motivation by stimulating a build-up of dopamine in the synapses. This discovery holds promise for treating apathy and fatigue in humans, particularly those suffering from depression or caused by chronic diseases.
Researchers at University of Tsukuba found that dopamine neurons are key to inhibiting preplanned actions in monkeys, suggesting a possible mechanism for treating diseases with impaired inhibition. The study used gaze fixation experiments to train monkeys to redirect their attention and measure neuronal activity.
Scientists have made a major advance in understanding how heroin addiction develops by studying the brain circuits that lead to its powerful addictive effects. The discovery of dopamine neurons' role in reinforcing heroin's effects could help refine addiction treatment and develop less addictive painkillers.
Researchers applied polydopamine as an infiltrate binder to achieve high mechanical and electrical properties in graphene-based liquid crystalline fibers. The bio-inspired defect engineering overcomes the limitations of conventional graphene fibers, making it suitable for flexible electronics, textiles, and wearable sensors.
Scientists have discovered that alcohol blocks a potassium channel called KCNK13 in the brain, leading to increased dopamine release and pleasure. This finding presents an exciting new target for developing drugs to treat alcohol use disorder.
Researchers discovered that neural encoding of sensory information leading to belief updates is negatively related to dopamine receptor availability. The study also found a link between dopamine and the ability to flexibly update beliefs, with paranoid ideation being negatively related to sensitivity to meaningful sensory information.
A comprehensive study has cataloged over 70,000 novel noncoding RNAs active in dopamine neurons, implicating them in conditions like Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. The findings suggest that genetic risk variants may affect gene switches in these specialized cells.
MIT neuroscientists have developed tiny probes that can measure dopamine levels in the brain for more than a year. The sensors were implanted in animals and found to produce accurate readings for up to 393 days, opening up new possibilities for understanding dopamine's role in diseases such as Parkinson's.
Researchers investigate the role of dopamine neurons in assigning value to environmental cues, revealing parallel motivational roles for different types of neurons. This study contributes to understanding relapse in addiction by highlighting the importance of normal cue-triggered motivation.
Researchers used a Pavlovian model to investigate the role of dopamine neurons in assigning value to environmental cues. They found that dopamine neurons can imbue cues with motivational value, driving actions and approach towards specific locations.
Research at Harvard Medical School reveals that fruit fly courtship is influenced by the convergence of motivation, perception, and chance. The study found that dopamine levels play a crucial role in directing courtship behavior, with high levels leading to persistent pursuit.
A study published in EMBO Reports reveals that the Maged1 gene plays a key role in controlling addictive behavior. Researchers found that mice lacking the gene are unresponsive to cocaine and exhibit reduced dopamine release, indicating a promising new entry point for understanding drug addiction mechanisms.
Researchers found that mice lacking the Maged1 gene are unresponsive to cocaine and show diminished dopamine release, highlighting its role in addictive behavior. The study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying drug addiction.
A CAMH study reveals that people with schizophrenia have a disrupted stress response, differing from those at high risk for psychosis or healthy individuals. This discovery may provide clues into preventing schizophrenia.
Researchers discovered a brain circuit necessary for unlearning fear in rats. Dopamine activity is crucial for fear extinction, but its specific role varies depending on the brain region involved.
A new study reveals that half of Parkinson's patients taking dopamine agonist drugs may develop impulse control disorders such as compulsive gambling, shopping, or eating. The five-year cumulative incidence of these disorders is higher in those who have ever taken the medications compared to those who never took them.
Researchers at UC Davis Health have developed fluorescence sensors allowing precise capture of dopamine activity in the brain. This breakthrough technology enables high-resolution maps of dopamine transients associated with behaviors such as learning and motivation.
Researchers discovered that dopamine neurons respond to novel images but not familiar ones, indicating a key role in episodic memory formation. This finding has implications for understanding and treating diseases like Parkinson's, which often accompany cognitive issues such as memory problems.
Researchers used electrochemical probes to record simultaneous sub-second fluctuations in dopamine and serotonin during active decision-making in a conscious human subject. Serotonin appears to temper excitement over positive outcomes while softening the potential disappointment of negative outcomes.
Recalling traumatic memories enhances the rewarding effects of morphine in male rats, increasing freezing fear response and preference for morphine. Dopamine receptors D1R and D4R play a role in this effect, suggesting abnormal dopamine signals may underlie PTSD addiction.
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 have identified a novel pathway that sustains the health of dopamine neurons in C. elegans worms. The swip-10 gene's normal actions to protect dopamine neurons are indirect, derived from its action in glial cells that lie adjacent to the dopamine neurons.
Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center found that people with schizophrenia who experience auditory hallucinations tend to hear what they expect, an exaggerated version of a perceptual distortion. Elevated dopamine can exacerbate distorted perceptions.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have identified the molecular machinery responsible for precise dopamine release in the brain, challenging current models of dopamine signaling. The study found specialized active release sites that enable fast and spatially precise secretion of dopamine.
Researchers discovered that a 'puff' of dopamine before movement initiation is essential for normal motor function, not constant dopamine levels. This finding may lead to more effective treatments with fewer side effects for Parkinson's disease.
Researchers found that mosquitoes associate odors with unpleasant mechanical shocks, leading them to avoid those scents. The insects' ability to process and learn from odor information relies on dopamine in the brain.
Researchers found that mosquitoes can learn and remember human smells and associate them with defensive behaviors, leading them to avoid hosts who swat at them. This aversive learning is mediated by dopamine and can be exploited for mosquito control.
Research scientist Ekaterina Dobryakova is studying the effects of performance feedback on cognitive fatigue levels in individuals with TBI. The goal is to develop a behavioral intervention that can reduce cognitive fatigue and improve quality of life for affected individuals.
A study published in eNeuro found that amphetamine exposure during adolescence impairs the development of the mouse prefrontal cortex. This region is critical for decision-making and other complex functions. The researchers observed reduced synapses and axon growth, suggesting a lasting impact on brain structure.
Researchers found that exercise increases DJ-1 protective gene expression, preventing abnormal protein accumulation in the brain. This may help slow Parkinson's disease progression.
A comparative analysis of primate brains found that humans exhibit unique differences in dopamine gene expression, particularly in the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine. These differences may contribute to aspects of cognition and behavior such as working memory, reasoning, and intelligence.
Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill and UCSF have solved the crystal structure of a specific dopamine receptor called D4 at an incredibly high resolution, allowing them to design a new compound that tightly binds only to D4. This breakthrough could lead to more precise psychiatric drugs with fewer side effects.
A team at UC San Francisco and UNC Chapel Hill has determined the crystal structure of the dopamine receptor D4 at an incredibly high resolution. This breakthrough allows researchers to design a new compound that tightly binds only to D4, potentially leading to more effective psychiatric drugs with fewer side effects.
A new study by Matthew Wanat found that more dopamine is released when waiting for a reward, highlighting the importance of timing in decision-making. The research could provide valuable insights into understanding drug addiction, which hijacks brain regions where dopamine is released.
Researchers discovered that alpha-synuclein, a protein involved in Parkinson's disease, blocks signals from the important brain growth factor BDNF. This 'tug of war' between alpha-synuclein and BDNF affects brain cells' survival and explains why dopamine-producing neurons are more vulnerable to degeneration.
A UC Riverside-led study identified two hormones (ecdysis triggering hormone and juvenile hormone) and a neurotransmitter (dopamine) that regulate courtship memories in males. The study found that these molecules are critical to maintaining aversive memories of failed courtship attempts, influencing future behaviors.
Researchers found that Parkinson's disease may be caused by maladaptive brain rewiring in the subthalamic nucleus, leading to impaired movement. The study challenges the traditional understanding of brain dysfunction in Parkinson's disease.
Researchers have identified a toxic cascade in Parkinson's disease and found that treating dopamine neurons with antioxidants early on may prevent degeneration and improve neuron function. The study also highlights the importance of studying human neurons to develop new therapies.
Neurons can dynamically modify their dopamine content by adjusting vesicle acidity, contradicting the existing textbook model. This finding has important implications for understanding dopamine-related diseases like schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease.
Researchers studying fruit flies have found that a neurotransmitter called dopamine regulates social space, with too little or too much release causing male and female fruit flies to adjust their distance. The discovery may lead to new insights into disorders where personal space is an issue.
Researchers found that dopamine-producing neurons directly control the brain's circadian center, regulating eating cycles and metabolism. This discovery may lead to new treatments for jet lag, shift work, and related pathologies.
Researchers found that mice fed a high-fat diet exhibit withdrawal-like stress responses when switched to a low-fat diet, with dopamine levels impacted by stress signals. Blocking these signals normalizes the dopamine system, preventing binge-eating when the high-fat diet is reintroduced.
A high-fat diet from childhood may increase sensitivity to dopamine later in adulthood, leading to increased reward-seeking behavior. The study found that male rats exhibited increased locomotor activity and dopamine cell activity after a high-fat diet exposure.
Researchers at McGill University found that cues associated with cocaine consumption trigger dopamine release in the dorsal striatum, a structure involved in compulsive behavior, even among non-dependent users. This suggests that recreational users may be further along the road to addiction than they realize.
Researchers identified specific dopamine wedge neurons responsible for driving fruit flies' food preferences towards what they need. After protein deprivation, these neurons released a chemical signal that directed the flies to seek out their main protein source, yeast.
A University of Kansas researcher suggests a possible therapeutic intervention for chemobrain, a cognitive impairment plaguing up to a third of cancer patients following chemotherapy. The study found that KU-32 prevents cognitive decline in rats caused by chemotherapy treatment by inducing the heat shock response.
Researchers used PET scans to study dopamine levels in patients with migraines and healthy individuals. The study found that dopamine levels fell significantly during migraine attacks, which may contribute to increased sensory sensitivity. This suggests that dopamine-based therapies could be effective in managing migraines.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found significant changes in dopamine and serotonin transporters after a seven-day spiritual retreat, leading to increased positive emotions and self-transcendence. The study suggests that such retreats could prime the brain for spiritual experiences.
Researchers at the University of Turku found that SPECT imaging does not correlate with the number of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra, a key area affected by Parkinson's disease. This discovery has significant implications for future treatment development and monitoring.
Researchers at Salk Institute find that changing dopamine levels can alter upcoming choices, suggesting new avenues for treating Parkinson's and OCD. The study uses advanced techniques to measure dopamine concentration in mice brains, revealing a tight association between brain chemistry and decision-making.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory found that dopamine-releasing neurons factor ambiguity into predictions, enabling effective learning and decision-making. The study adds a new dimension to our understanding of brain function, suggesting that these neurons are more sophisticated than previously thought.
Researchers suggest that complex neural dynamics and prefrontal cortex activity contribute to alcoholism. Dopamine neurons' response mode can vary depending on synaptic input patterns, potentially leading to addiction.
The new device, an array of tiny carbon electrodes, measures dopamine levels at millisecond timescales and can be used to monitor therapies aimed at boosting dopamine levels. The researchers found that dopamine levels vary greatly across the striatum, with implications for understanding learning and brain disorders.
Despite significant weight gain, anorexia nervosa patients' brains continue to exhibit elevated reward systems, suggesting a prolonged recovery period. The study suggests that neurotransmitter dopamine plays a key role in the disease's pathology and may require targeted treatments.
Researchers discovered a connection between the SV2C protein and dopamine release in the brain, suggesting that drug therapies targeting SV2C may be beneficial for PD patients. The study found altered SV2C levels only in PD brains among patients with various neurodegenerative diseases.
A new study by Northeastern University psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett found that the neurotransmitter dopamine plays a crucial role in human bonding. The research, which used a novel technology to scan mothers' brains while interacting with their infants, showed that strong social relationships can improve outcomes for individuals w...
Researchers discovered how a protein called WAVE1 regulates brain response to cocaine, providing fundamental insights into the brain's inner workings. The study suggests new potential treatments for cocaine addiction and highlights the importance of understanding dopamine signaling.
Researchers discovered that immigrant populations have altered brain chemistry, specifically higher levels of dopamine, which can increase the risk of schizophrenia. The study suggests that social stress is a key factor contributing to this increased risk, and targeted interventions may help mitigate it.
A new dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia proposes a biological basis for the disorder, with dopamine signaling playing a key role in its development. The hypothesis has been revised numerous times since clinical observations first implicated dopamine decades ago.