Articles tagged with Ventral Striatum
Comprehensive exploration of living organisms, biological systems, and life processes across all scales from molecules to ecosystems. Encompasses cutting-edge research in biology, genetics, molecular biology, ecology, biochemistry, microbiology, botany, zoology, evolutionary biology, genomics, and biotechnology. Investigates cellular mechanisms, organism development, genetic inheritance, biodiversity conservation, metabolic processes, protein synthesis, DNA sequencing, CRISPR gene editing, stem cell research, and the fundamental principles governing all forms of life on Earth.
Comprehensive medical research, clinical studies, and healthcare sciences focused on disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Encompasses clinical medicine, public health, pharmacology, epidemiology, medical specialties, disease mechanisms, therapeutic interventions, healthcare innovation, precision medicine, telemedicine, medical devices, drug development, clinical trials, patient care, mental health, nutrition science, health policy, and the application of medical science to improve human health, wellbeing, and quality of life across diverse populations.
Comprehensive investigation of human society, behavior, relationships, and social structures through systematic research and analysis. Encompasses psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, linguistics, education, demography, communications, and social research methodologies. Examines human cognition, social interactions, cultural phenomena, economic systems, political institutions, language and communication, educational processes, population dynamics, and the complex social, cultural, economic, and political forces shaping human societies, communities, and civilizations throughout history and across the contemporary world.
Fundamental study of the non-living natural world, matter, energy, and physical phenomena governing the universe. Encompasses physics, chemistry, earth sciences, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, materials science, and the investigation of physical laws, chemical reactions, geological processes, climate systems, and planetary dynamics. Explores everything from subatomic particles and quantum mechanics to planetary systems and cosmic phenomena, including energy transformations, molecular interactions, elemental properties, weather patterns, tectonic activity, and the fundamental forces and principles underlying the physical nature of reality.
Practical application of scientific knowledge and engineering principles to solve real-world problems and develop innovative technologies. Encompasses all engineering disciplines, technology development, computer science, artificial intelligence, environmental sciences, agriculture, materials applications, energy systems, and industrial innovation. Bridges theoretical research with tangible solutions for infrastructure, manufacturing, computing, communications, transportation, construction, sustainable development, and emerging technologies that advance human capabilities, improve quality of life, and address societal challenges through scientific innovation and technological progress.
Study of the practice, culture, infrastructure, and social dimensions of science itself. Addresses how science is conducted, organized, communicated, and integrated into society. Encompasses research funding mechanisms, scientific publishing systems, peer review processes, academic ethics, science policy, research institutions, scientific collaboration networks, science education, career development, research programs, scientific methods, science communication, and the sociology of scientific discovery. Examines the human, institutional, and cultural aspects of scientific enterprise, knowledge production, and the translation of research into societal benefit.
Comprehensive study of the universe beyond Earth, encompassing celestial objects, cosmic phenomena, and space exploration. Includes astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, cosmology, space physics, astrobiology, and space technology. Investigates stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, black holes, nebulae, exoplanets, dark matter, dark energy, cosmic microwave background, stellar evolution, planetary formation, space weather, solar system dynamics, the search for extraterrestrial life, and humanity's efforts to explore, understand, and unlock the mysteries of the cosmos through observation, theory, and space missions.
Comprehensive examination of tools, techniques, methodologies, and approaches used across scientific disciplines to conduct research, collect data, and analyze results. Encompasses experimental procedures, analytical methods, measurement techniques, instrumentation, imaging technologies, spectroscopic methods, laboratory protocols, observational studies, statistical analysis, computational methods, data visualization, quality control, and methodological innovations. Addresses the practical techniques and theoretical frameworks enabling scientists to investigate phenomena, test hypotheses, gather evidence, ensure reproducibility, and generate reliable knowledge through systematic, rigorous investigation across all areas of scientific inquiry.
Study of abstract structures, patterns, quantities, relationships, and logical reasoning through pure and applied mathematical disciplines. Encompasses algebra, calculus, geometry, topology, number theory, analysis, discrete mathematics, mathematical logic, set theory, probability, statistics, and computational mathematics. Investigates mathematical structures, theorems, proofs, algorithms, functions, equations, and the rigorous logical frameworks underlying quantitative reasoning. Provides the foundational language and tools for all scientific fields, enabling precise description of natural phenomena, modeling of complex systems, and the development of technologies across physics, engineering, computer science, economics, and all quantitative sciences.
A new study found that individuals with a history of major depression showed higher MRI markers associated with neuroinflammation in the VTA, suggesting increased extracellular inflammatory processes. Current depressive symptom severity was associated with distinct microstructural changes indicating different underlying pathophysiologi...
A study found that rats' impulsive behavior and risky decision-making are shaped differently in males and females based on the timing of neural stimulation. The results highlight the importance of considering biological sex when developing treatments for disorders related to impulsivity and addiction.
A computational framework has been created to understand how the brain's striatum region influences everyday decisions and impaired decision-making in individuals with psychiatric disorders. The study suggests that modulating striosomal activity could be a new approach to addressing psychiatric abnormalities.
People with musical anhedonia still derive pleasure from groovy tunes, and the urge to move appears to drive their experience of pleasure. Research found no differences in either pleasure or urge to move in anhedonics compared to controls, suggesting that the urge to move may itself generate pleasure.
McGill University researchers identify ventral striatum as key area in brain decisions between future pain and profit, potentially advancing treatments for disorders characterized by excessive avoidance. The study uses brain scans to monitor activity and machine-learning algorithms to predict participants' choices.
A study by HSE University and University of Basel found that the brain's pleasure centre is suppressed when resources are depleted, but responds differently to private and public resources. This understanding may help identify measures to preserve common natural resources.
A recent KAIST study revealed that the ventral striatum is a neural basis for our habitual seeking behavior, including addiction. The research found that long-term value memories are retained in the ventral striatum and guide automatic evaluations of objects based on positive values.
Researchers used fMRI to study effort-based decision-making and found two distinct regions of the ventral striatum associated with different phases of physical effort. The findings provide new insights into motivation, depression, schizophrenia, and PTSD.
Research suggests that higher reward-related ventral striatum activity may protect against depressive symptoms associated with poor sleep quality. The study found that students with higher VS activity were less likely to report symptoms of depression when experiencing poor sleep quality.
Researchers used advanced brain imaging techniques to study how beer flavor affects brain activity in beer drinkers. The study found that the right ventral striatum, a deep structure linked to motivated behavior and reward, showed increased activity in response to beer taste.
Cocaine users exhibit hyperactivation in the ventral striatum, a region critical for reward processing, and display anomalous activation profiles in the prefrontal cortex. Structural differences, including hypertrophy of key brain regions, contribute to the development of compulsive behaviors and difficulties in controlling impulses.
A new study suggests that brain activity can predict how likely young adults are to develop problem drinking or engage in risky sexual behavior. The research found that imbalance in the function of typically complementary brain areas, such as the ventral striatum and amygdala, is associated with increased risk.
Researchers found that teens are more likely to make risky decisions when driving alone, but with a mother present, they become less likely to take risks. The brain regions responsible for this behavior include the ventral striatum and prefrontal cortex.
A study from Johns Hopkins Medicine found that performance is influenced by a person's aversion to loss, with those having high loss aversion doing better when faced with large prospective losses but choking under pressure of large gains. Brain imaging revealed the ventral striatum as the key brain area involved in this process.
Researchers at MIT have developed a technique that allows them to track neural communication in the brain over time, offering a new window on brain function. The technique uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) along with a specialized molecular sensor to monitor dopamine levels in specific regions of the brain.
A new study suggests that adolescents who find pleasure in pro-social activities are less likely to become depressed than those who engage in risk-taking behaviors. The research found that activity in the ventral striatum brain region predicted whether depressive symptoms would worsen or lessen over time.
A study by Caltech researchers suggests that when high financial incentives are involved, people become afraid of losing their potential reward and perform worse. The team found that the more someone is afraid of loss, the worse they perform, and that this effect even occurs when there are no explicit losses.
A study found that the ventral striatum in the brain drives motivation during actions requiring physical and mental effort. The researchers discovered a general motivational system, activating both cognitive and motor parts of the brain depending on task difficulty.
Researchers have identified why dopamine replacement therapy has a negative effect on cognition in Parkinson's disease patients. The study found that the treatment enhances functions of the dorsal striatum at the expense of the ventral striatum.
Researchers found that when people agree with our opinions, the 'reward' area of the brain is activated, indicating a satisfying experience. The study used fMRI to examine brain activity in response to expert opinions on music preferences, finding that agreement tends to increase brain reward activity.
Researchers used fMRI scans to study the connection between loneliness and brain activity. The study found that lonely individuals showed reduced activity in the ventral striatum, a region associated with rewards, when viewing pleasant settings. In contrast, non-lonely individuals showed increased activity in this region.
Researchers at the University of Bonn found that the brain's 'wiring' plays a significant role in shaping personality traits and behavior. Individuals with well-developed neural connections between the ventral striatum and hippocampus tend to be more open to new experiences and seek out challenges.
Researchers identified a brain region associated with novel experiences, which may drive humans to take risks for rewards. This discovery could have implications for understanding addiction and decision-making.
A brain scanning experiment found that when colleagues earn less, participants show stronger activation in the brain's reward centre. Traditional economic theory suggests that only absolute size of rewards matters, but this study reveals relative earnings play a major role in motivation.
Researchers found that individuals with a preference for immediate rewards had more active ventral striatum regions, which may indicate risk for addictions and gambling problems. The study suggests that understanding individual differences in ventral striatal sensitivity could aid efforts to treat impulsive behavior.
Researchers found that amphetamine treatment dampened peak activity in the ventral striatum region while prolonging its length. This led to equalized levels of activity and positive arousal during anticipation of both gain and loss.