A large neuroimaging study found structural brain differences in individuals with bulimia nervosa, particularly in regions involved in reward and motivation, social and sensory processing. More frequent binge eating was associated with more widespread differences in brain structure.
A recent study by researchers at the University of California, Riverside, found that a specific brain region known as the caudate nucleus is strongly linked to physical strength in older adults. The discovery could help detect and prevent frailty before it begins.
Researchers at the University of Plymouth have successfully used transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) to change the function of a deep region of the human brain, specifically the nucleus accumbens. This tiny element is triggered by enjoyable experiences and helps us learn behaviours that lead to rewards.
Researchers identified a dual learning system in the brain that enables habits to form and provides a scientific basis for breaking bad habits. The study suggests that replacing an action consistently can lead to the APE system forming a new habit, offering a potential strategy for overcoming addictions.
Researchers found that dopamine signals in two key brain areas respond differently to negative experiences, helping the brain adapt based on predictability and controllability. This study sheds light on how excessive avoidance can lead to decreased quality of life and why the 'dopamine detox' trend is too simplistic.
A novel brain study uncovers the critical role of the HDAC5 enzyme in regulating gene expression and neuronal activity, which can trigger relapse in individuals with substance use disorders. The study highlights a new molecular target for developing novel treatments to reduce relapse risk.
Researchers discovered that D1 and D2 neurons in the brain work together to process appetitive and aversive stimuli, with D2 neurons playing a key role in extinguishing negative associations. This understanding can help develop new treatments for anxiety and post-traumatic stress.
Researchers used fMRI data to predict choices made by thousands of people on crowdfunding websites, finding consistent associations in the NAcc region. This neuroforecasting technique has potential for scaling up predictions of human behavior across diverse populations.
Researchers at Medical University of South Carolina found that cocaine triggers a specific protein, NPAS4, which hijacks brain circuitry and promotes further drug use. Inhibiting these cells eliminates drug-seeking behavior in mice.
Researchers developed a novel light-sensitive drug that enhances extracellular adenosine activity, inducing sleep artificially without genetic modification. The drug overcomes issues with conventional photosensitive drugs, showcasing optochemistry's potential in targeting A2A receptors and regulating brain function.
A patient at OHSU received a single stimulator implanted in the brain to effectively control two life-altering conditions: seizures caused by epilepsy and compulsive behavior caused by obsessive-compulsive disorder. The treatment, known as responsive neurostimulation system (RNS), has dramatically improved Pearson's quality of life.
Researchers used fMRI to analyze brain activity in response to restaurant menu photos, finding a correlation between neural activity and dish sales. The study suggests restaurants can design menus based on predicted consumer preferences.
Researchers at MUSC identified changes in pyramidal neurons contributing to drug seeking. Inhibiting enzyme protein kinase A restored normal function and reduced opioid-seeking behavior.
Osaka University researchers identified a specific group of cells in the nucleus accumbens that signal when mice have made a mistake. Blocking these cells' signaling impairs future decision-making, highlighting the importance of this brain pathway in learning from mistakes.
Research found that cocaine use disorder causes significant gene expression changes in brain regions associated with reward and habit formation, contributing to persistent behavioral abnormalities. The study also identified overlapping molecular changes between cocaine and opioid use disorders, offering potential for targeted treatments.
Researchers discovered that glucose takes longer to reach the nucleus accumbens in obesity-prone rats, leading to excess glutamate levels. This defect in neurotransmitter recycling process may contribute to overeating behavior and obesity.
The study reveals two neuron subgroups in NAc: NAc BLA and NAc PVT. These neurons regulate reward-seeking behavior and aversion, respectively. The findings provide insight into the brain's reward and aversion processing.
A study found that higher levels of glutathione in the nucleus accumbens correlate with better performance in motivation tasks. Nutritional interventions targeting GSH levels may improve motivation by modifying behavior and facilitating effortful endurance.
A team of researchers identified a protein kinase substrate downstream of the dopamine signaling pathway regulating brain reward behavior. The study found that phosphorylation of potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily Q member 2 (KCNQ2) decreases its channel activity, increasing neuronal excitability and promoting reward behavior.
Researchers found that a gene called Rgs2 plays a crucial role in depression-related behavior, particularly in women. Increasing this gene's expression in the nucleus accumbens reversed stress effects and improved motivation in female mice, suggesting a potential molecular mechanism contributing to the lack of response to depression tr...
Researchers found that loneliness is driven by different brain states than social anxiety, with distinct neural activity patterns. People with social anxiety showed increased amygdala activation and reduced nucleus accumbens activation, while those with high loneliness did not display these patterns.
Chronic pain may lead to changed eating behavior and obesity due to altered brain responses to sugar and fat. Brain scans reveal a smaller nucleus accumbens in patients with chronic pain who experience disrupted satiety signals.
Researchers have identified significant neurological effects of social isolation on the brain, including altered neural circuits and increased risk for disease. Social isolation can cause permanent changes in behavior and lead to health issues like anxiety and depression.
Researchers have identified a new pathway for opioid-induced reward in the brain, paving the way for creating safer opioids. By altering the opioid peptide receptor MOPR, pharmaceutical companies can potentially create drugs that bypass the brain's reward system.
Researchers have discovered a new pathway in the brain that plays a key role in rewards and reinforcement. GABA neurons from the ventral tegmental area project to the nucleus accumbens shell, promoting reward processing. This finding offers new avenues for understanding psychiatric diseases such as depression and addiction.
Researchers found that the nucleus accumbens recruited by cocaine use are largely distinct from those recruited by sucrose, offering a potential solution for treating substance use disorders without affecting biologically adaptive seeking of reward. The study identified specific neuronal ensembles and cell types involved in each response.
A study using MRI found a positive association between nucleus accumbens cellular density and waist circumference in childhood. Higher cellular density predicted greater increases in waist circumference over time, linking unhealthy eating to obesity.
A study published in Neuropsychopharmacology found that the balance between glutamine and glutamate levels in the nucleus accumbens is crucial for sustained effort-based motivated performance. The research suggests a potential link to therapeutic strategies, including nutritional interventions, to address motivational deficits.
A study by scientists from Université de Genève found that active mediation in couples enhances conflict resolution and satisfaction. Couples who received mediation showed increased activation in the nucleus accumbens, a key region associated with feelings of pleasure and motivation.
A study of 40 people with subacute back pain found that those at risk of developing chronic back pain have smaller volumes in the nucleus accumbens, a key brain structure. The loss of low-frequency fluctuations in this region can accurately classify chronic low back pain patients across different laboratories.
Researchers used functional MRI scans to study brain activity while watching videos. Increased activity in certain brain regions predicted whether individuals would continue watching and even forecasted aggregate video view frequency and duration.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a specific brain chemical, serotonin, responsible for the social behavior-enhancing effects of MDMA. The study suggests that novel treatments targeting this pathway may alleviate symptoms of psychiatric disorders marked by social awkwardness and withdrawal.
Research using identical and fraternal twins suggests that genetic variation contributes to individual differences in pleasure and reward processing. The study found that activation of the nucleus accumbens, a key structure in the brain's reward system, is moderately heritable, as are scores for physical anhedonia and pleasure.
Researchers found that releasing serotonin in a specific part of the brain enhanced social behavior in mice, providing insights into autism spectrum disorder and potentially leading to new treatments. The study suggests that targeting this brain circuit could ameliorate social deficits in individuals with these disorders.
Researchers at MUSC found that BDNF application to nucleus accumbens reduces cocaine-seeking behavior and reverses relapse. The study suggests BDNF has a fine-tuned effect on addiction, with timing-dependent impacts.
A new study published in Nature Communications finds that the nucleus accumbens, associated with motivation and pleasure, can produce sleep. This discovery may explain why people tend to fall asleep in boring situations, as it suggests a strong ability of this brain region to induce sleep.
Researchers found that low-dose diazepam increased social competitiveness in high- and medium-anxious rats by boosting dopamine release and mitochondrial function. The study suggests that this mechanism could be targeted through non-pharmacological interventions.
Researchers found that social rank triggers differential vulnerability to chronic stress and identifies brain energy metabolism as a predictive biomarker. The study showed that dominant mice display susceptibility to stress through social avoidance, while subordinate mice exhibit resilience.
Researchers found that individuals with specific musical anhedonia showed reduced connectivity between auditory processing and the Nucleus Accumbens, a key reward structure. In contrast, those with high music sensitivity demonstrated enhanced connectivity, highlighting different pathways to reward for music and other stimuli.
Research by Imperial College London suggests targeting specific brain pathways may lead to future treatments for gambling addiction. The study found connections between the parts of the brain that control impulses are weakened in people with gambling addiction.
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.
Researchers identified a specific brain circuit involving DR2 nerve cells that predicts risk-taking preferences in rats. The findings expand on human research, suggesting the circuit may also be relevant to humans.
Research finds that motivating patients with spinal cord injury activates the brain's motor cortex, promoting early-stage recovery. Psychological support is crucial for functional reinstatement of hand control.
A study published in European Journal of Neuroscience found that the hippocampus and nucleus accumbens work together to make decisions about time and reward. Effective 'disconnection' of these structures can lead to impulsive behavior, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for psychiatric disorders.
Researchers found that oxytocin plays a unique role in one-on-one bonding, which likely evolved from an existing affinity for group living. The discovery has implications for neurological disorders like autism and suggests possible new treatments for neuropsychiatric conditions.
Researchers found that Facebook users' intensity of use is predicted by activity in the nucleus accumbens, a region involved in processing rewards and reputation. The study suggests social media use may be linked to changes in brain function related to reputation and self-image.
A recent study at McGill University found that the nucleus accumbens and auditory cortex interact to assign value to music through pattern recognition and prediction. This interaction involves ancient dopaminergic reward circuitry and is essential for our survival and emotional experiences.
A Georgetown University Medical Center study found that tinnitus is caused by the brain's inability to repair itself after hearing loss, resulting in phantom ringing sounds. The researchers also discovered a link between tinnitus and other perceptual disorders, such as chronic pain and altered mood states.
Researchers found that unexpected stimuli enhance early and late electrical potentials in the hippocampus, with a memory recall for unexpected items. The nucleus accumbens is also involved, influencing subsequent processing to promote memory encoding.
A study found that deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the nucleus accumbens improved symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients with severe treatment-resistant depression. The procedure showed promising results with minimal side effects.
A study found that nearly a quarter of the variability in achievement among video gamers can be predicted by measuring specific brain structures. Players with larger nucleus accumbens, caudate nucleus, and putamen performed better in training periods.
A new study from University of Bonn suggests that deep brain stimulation can significantly improve depression in half of patients, who had previously not responded to other therapies. The treatment involves implanting electrodes in the nucleus accumbens, a key area of the brain's reward system.
Researchers found that erotic images stimulated a positive emotional response, increasing activation in the nucleus accumbens and leading to bigger financial risks. The study's findings have implications for effective emotional appeals in various fields, including finance and marketing.
A new study by University of Chicago Medical Center researchers found a remarkable overlap between the effects of nicotine and opiates on dopamine signaling in the brain's reward centers. The findings suggest that these two addictive substances share common underlying brain chemistry mechanisms.
Scientists have discovered that leptin controls our fondness for food by activating brain regions responsible for rewarding emotions and desires. The study found that individuals deficient in leptin show strong responses to food pictures, even after eating, whereas treatment with leptin normalizes these responses.
A study at the University of Bonn found that two men and a woman with severe depression experienced significant improvements in their symptoms after receiving deep brain stimulation. The therapy, which targets the nucleus accumbens area of the brain, showed promising results despite the small patient group.
Researchers found that high-dose CRF injections triggered intense bursts of sugar craving in response to a cue, but low doses or no injection had minimal effect. The study suggests a potential link between stress and binge behavior.
Researchers found a link between alcohol intake and endocannabinoid-like brain compounds in mice, suggesting a potential target for medication development. The study's findings parallel observations in humans, with age-dependent decline in alcohol preference and reduced CB1 receptor signaling.
The study found that the nucleus accumbens responds proportionally to increasing rewards but not punishments, linking reward-related feelings to this brain area. Increasing reward cues evoked increasing self-rated happiness and nucleus accumbens activity.