Articles tagged with Amygdala
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Researchers used deep brain imaging to study amygdala activity in mice, revealing two large antagonistic sets of neurons that encode opposing moment-to-moment state changes. The findings suggest a complex neural basis for internal states like anxiety, which may have implications for understanding human anxiety disorders.
Researchers identified special brain cells that allow animals to reconstruct their social partner's state of mind and predict their intentions. Dysfunction in these 'simulation neurons' may contribute to social cognition difficulties in conditions like autism and social anxiety.
A new study from UCI scientists identifies an imbalance in the amygdala-hippocampal circuit that explains how people reactivate negative emotional memories. The finding may unlock new treatment approaches for PTSD and other mental disorders.
New research reveals that individual amygdala neurons in monkeys respond to both touch, imagery, and sounds, suggesting these cells facilitate the processing of multisensory social and emotional information. The findings challenge assumptions about the amygdala's primary response to visual stimuli.
Researchers found epigenetic changes in the brain's emotional center that last a lifetime, leading to increased risk of psychological problems and addiction. Early-onset drinkers showed reduced BDNF levels, which can impair normal brain development.
Researchers have identified distinct brain patterns that respond differently to learning danger and safety in individuals with varying levels of PTSD symptom severity. The study found that more severely symptomatic veterans exhibited greater corrections in physiological arousal and brain activity when faced with unexpected stimuli.
Researchers found that more efficient neural codes in humans and monkeys resulted in reduced robustness, potentially contributing to disorders like ADHD, anxiety, and depression. The study supports the 'washing machine' theory of brain evolution, suggesting a trade-off between efficiency and error resistance.
A team of scientists at Stanford University has identified a bundle of brain cells in mice responsible for the negative emotions associated with pain. The amygdala region is key to processing painful stimuli and conveying emotional responses.
Research at San Diego State University discovered unique patterns of neural communication in the brains of children with autism. The study found weaker connections between the amygdala and the occipital cortex, as well as an absence of expected strengthening of connections during adolescence.
Researchers found that EMDR suppresses fear-related amygdala activity during recall of traumatic memories. The treatment also enhances extinction learning by deactivating the amygdala, a critical brain region for fear learning.
Research found two brain areas associated with action control have varying volumes and connectivity in individuals with high versus low action control. Individuals with poor action control had a larger amygdala, while the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dorsal ACC) showed reduced functional connection to the amygdala.
Research suggests that the amygdala is involved in a person's ability to attend to the whites of another person's widened eyes, crucial for social functioning. The amygdala does not directly compute fear but rather acts as a context-sensitive sentinel for learning threat and reward.
A study published in JNeurosci found that activating the BLA-CeA circuit counteracted anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in rats, even without physical pain. This discovery sheds light on the complex relationship between pain and emotion, potentially leading to better treatments for chronic pain patients.
Researchers manipulate neurons in the amygdala to eliminate natural craving for sweet taste, while still recognizing flavors. The findings suggest a promising area of focus for treating eating disorders by isolating emotional reactions from flavor identification.
A study found that structural and functional connections between the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex are associated with individual differences in risk tolerance. Individuals with higher risk tolerance had larger amygdalas and more functional connections, suggesting a link between brain function and economic decision-making.
Researchers found that children with autism have too many amygdala neurons early on and then lose them as they age. Typically developing children, however, gain more amygdala neurons over time, suggesting a link between excessive neuron growth and anxiety in autism.
A new study maps distinct neighborhoods where feelings are assigned to experience in the basolateral amygdala, revealing a region with diverse and dynamic neurons that interact with each other. The findings shed light on how valence assignment works and may provide insights into mental health disorders.
The male rat brain changes how it stores information based on the safety and danger of its environment, according to new research. Emotionally charged information, such as danger, is processed by the amygdala, while harmless information is consolidated in other regions like the perirhinal cortex.
Researchers found that direct electrical stimulation of the human amygdala can enhance next-day recognition of images, with a significant boost in memory performance. The study used low-level current and showed an improvement in memory recall for patients with epilepsy and average memory performance.
Researchers used electrical stimulation to activate the amygdala, a brain region involved in prioritizing memories, and found improved memory recognition for participants. The study has implications for developing memory enhancement therapies.
Research from NC State University reveals that prenatal BPA exposure at levels below the current FDA safety threshold alters hormone receptor expression, synaptic transmission, and neurodevelopment in the developing rat brain. The study found sex-specific differences in sensitivity to BPA exposure, with females appearing more sensitive.
Research in mice reveals that the central amygdala, not the lateral portion, is crucial for aversive learning and associating sensory stimuli with threat. This finding has implications for treating disorders like anxiety and PTSD by modifying fear memories.
A study published in Scientific Reports found that city dwellers living close to a forest showed healthier amygdala structures, suggesting better stress coping mechanisms. However, the association with urban green or wasteland was not confirmed.
A new study sheds light on the connection between gut bacteria and anxiety, finding that a significant number of miRNAs were changed in the brains of microbe-free mice. The researchers suggest that targeting the gut microbiome may be a potential therapeutic approach for psychiatric disorders.
Researchers at the University of Queensland have discovered that adult brains can produce new cells in the amygdala, a region important for processing emotional memories. This finding has significant implications for understanding the brain's ability to adapt and regenerate.
Researchers found that maternal inflammation can lead to changes in the fetal brain, particularly in the amygdala, which plays a crucial role in emotional processing. This association has been linked to impaired impulse control and an increased risk of psychiatric disorders.
Research reveals a key physical difference in the brains of military-trained individuals with PTSD, specifically a larger right amygdala volume. This finding has potential implications for diagnosis and treatment of PTSD.
Researchers found that avoiding social threats leads to decreased mentalizing network activity and increased amygdala activity, indicating heightened threat detection. The study used a Lord of the Rings-themed experiment to investigate neural correlates of social threat perception.
A study led by neuroscientists found that oxytocin in the amygdala inhibits a self-defense reaction, allowing mothers to protect their young. The team manipulated oxytocin levels and observed increased defensive behavior when the hormone was inhibited.
Researchers found individuals with amygdala damage more memorable faces looking sideways, but did not improve memory for emotional faces. The study suggests that processing emotions and gaze is more complex than previously thought.
Researchers at UCR have discovered that a specific population of hippocampal neurons project to both the amygdala and mPFC, facilitating coordinated neural activity in these areas. This finding could lead to the development of new therapeutics for reducing pathological fear in PTSD.
Researchers at MIT discovered a brain circuit that governs how we respond to conflicting environmental cues, shedding light on the neural mechanisms behind rapid decision-making. The study suggests that information flow between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex is critical for coordinating behavior in the face of competing signals.
Caltech researchers discovered that the amygdala has distinct neurons that judge the intensity and ambiguity of facial expressions, providing insights into autism and anxiety. The study found two groups of neurons: one for detecting emotion intensity and another for coding emotional ambiguity.
Weizmann Institute scientists have successfully erased fear memories in mice by disrupting the communication between two brain regions. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, may one day lead to novel therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety disorders.
Scientists have discovered that specific cells in the brain's medial amygdala program innate reproductive and aggressive behaviors. The study found that male and female brains respond differently to mating cues, with distinct patterns of activation in neurons expressing different transcription factors.
Researchers observe how large groups of neurons learn and unlearn a new association in the brain, blurring lines between stimuli. The findings have implications for studying emotional memory disorders like PTSD.
Researchers identified neurons in the amygdala that promote reward-related behaviors and suppress fear responses, finding that appetitive behaviors are driven by the same circuitry as defensive behaviors. The study reveals a push-pull mechanism in the brain regulating emotional states and behaviors.
A study by Emory University used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to analyze the brain activity of canine candidates. The results found that brain scans could predict which dogs would fail a rigorous service training program with a significant improvement in accuracy, helping organizations identify unsuitable dogs earlier. ...
Researchers identified a neural pathway in humans that explains how the brain processes feelings of fear and anxiety. By analyzing neuronal activity while watching horror movie scenes, they found that the amygdala and hippocampus directly exchange signals to process fearful stimuli.
A study by Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science identifies a specific brain circuit in the amygdala as crucial for empathy, providing hope for new treatments of social difficulties in autism. The findings suggest that targeting this region may help individuals with autism spectrum disorder develop social abilities.
A study found that brain connectivity patterns in newborns can predict the development of anxiety and depression. Healthy full-term babies had similar brain connection patterns to adults, while premature infants showed decreased connections between the amygdala and other brain regions, increasing the risk of early symptoms.
Researchers found two types of face cells that respond differently to human and non-human faces. The study's findings suggest that the brain processes faces based on attention focus, not just visual presence. This discovery may lead to a better understanding of social cognitive defects like autism.
Researchers at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science found no significant difference in brain amygdala volume between healthy men and women in a meta-analysis of dozens of studies. The study's findings suggest that there is more similarity than difference between the sexes, with minimal overlap in key brain structures.
A study published in The Lancet found a link between stress and increased risk of heart disease and stroke, with heightened amygdala activity associated with higher cardiovascular risk. Researchers suggest that stress may lead to cardiovascular disease through a biological mechanism involving the bone marrow and arteries.
A new study by Indian scientists has gained insights into the effects of a single stressful event on brain architecture. Research found increased electrical activity in the amygdala region of the brain, leading to changes in emotional reactions, memory, and decision-making.
Researchers have discovered that transplanting immature interneurons into the brains of mice can help reduce fear response. The study found that these transplanted cells reactivated a juvenile-like plasticity in the mature amygdala, enhancing synaptic plasticity and modulating fear extinction behavior.
Researchers from Scripps Florida have identified a biochemical cascade called the mTOR pathway that regulates growth in the developing brain as a key factor in autism. Mutations in PTEN affect the assembly of connections between brain areas important for social cue processing, leading to abnormal activity and deficits.
A neural circuit in the amygdala processes pain-related signals to set emotional memory strength and expectation levels. Disrupting this circuit can lead to hyper-emotional memories, such as those experienced by individuals with PTSD. The study suggests that similar circuits may perturb expectations in anxious people.
Research at University College London reveals that small lies desensitize our brains to associated negative emotions and may encourage us to tell larger lies. The study found that the brain's response to lying declines with each lie, predicting bigger lies in the future.
Researchers at Uppsala University have shown that disrupting fear-memories can improve exposure therapy for arachnophobia. This method, known as reconsolidation disruption, makes the memory unstable and then saves it in a weakened form.
Researchers at UC Davis used DREADDs technology to temporarily turn off the amygdala, a key region for emotions, and found changes in activity across the entire brain. This study suggests that altered brain connectivity may be used to determine pathology sites in complex disorders like schizophrenia and autism.
A study found that parvalbumin-interneurons in the amygdala regulate emotional reactivity by suppressing surrounding neurons. This inhibitory plasticity is a normal consequence of memory encoding, but dysregulation may lead to hyperexcitability and pathological fear expression.
Researchers have found that the human amygdala can detect threats in the visual environment at extremely fast time scales, even before receiving precise visual input from the neocortex. This discovery has implications for our understanding of pathologies such as phobias and anxiety, where the amygdala plays a key role.
Chronic stress alters the architecture of the brain's amygdala, leading to anxiety and depressive disorders. An experimental new drug may prevent this damage by increasing resilience in mice at risk for developing these conditions.
A new study from RIKEN Brain Science Institute reveals that the brain processes ambiguous associations, like those between odors and food or sounds and predators. Researchers found that the amygdala stores both memories and uncertainty in neural circuits.
Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill have identified a brain circuit controlling binge drinking, connecting two regions with corticotropin-releasing factor. Inhibiting this circuit in mice protects against binge alcohol drinking.
A new study from MIT reveals how two populations of neurons in the amygdala form parallel channels that carry information about pleasant or unpleasant events. The findings suggest that to fully understand how the brain processes emotions, neuroscientists will have to delve deeper into more specific populations.
A Russian-US research team found that aggressive behavior leads to new nerve cells being generated in the brain, specifically in the hippocampus. This discovery could help understand aggression and its link to autism and other disorders.
Researchers found that children raised in poverty have weaker connections between the hippocampus, amygdala, and other brain areas, increasing their risk of depression. The study highlights the importance of early intervention to foster positive brain development and reduce adverse outcomes.
A study by Michael Platt at the University of Pennsylvania found that the amygdala influences positive social functions like kindness and charitable giving in humans. Rhesus macaques showed a neural response to recipient rewards, which was correlated with prosocial behavior.