The brain's ability to update information is a complex process. Recent studies have focused on the role of dopamine and the striatum in this process. Researchers used a special type of MRI, called 7 Tesla fMRI, to scan the brain while people performed a memory task. They found that when new information is added to memory, areas like the prefrontal cortex and the fron...
The United States has been sliding down the happiness charts. This is not good news. But there is a simple way to boost your mood. It is all about the colors that surround you. It is not just about how you feel. Colors can actually change how your body works. They can make your heart beat slower or faster. They can even change how hungry you feel. So, what co...
Tourette's syndrome is a condition that's been linked to issues with dopamine, a chemical messenger in the brain. But there's more to the story. Recent findings suggest that iron, a crucial element for brain function, might also play a significant role. Iron helps in the creation and management of dopamine and its receptors. So, what's the connection between iron and...
Imagine a world where detecting tiny amounts of dopamine, a crucial neurotransmitter, is as easy as shining a light on it. That's exactly what scientists have done, but with a twist. They've ditched the usual harsh chemicals and opted for a gentler approach using natural light. Dopamine is a big deal in the world of neuroscience. It plays a key role in how o...
Ketamine, a drug often used in medical settings, can have serious effects on the brain. When mice were given ketamine, they showed signs similar to schizophrenia. Scientists wanted to understand why this happens and how it affects the brain. To do this, they used special tests to see how the mice behaved and looked at the genes in their brains. They found th...
Schizophrenia is a complex mental health condition that often requires long-term treatment. One of the key treatments involves blocking dopamine D 2 receptors. This approach is widely used to manage symptoms, but it raises a critical question: Does continuous use of these medications lead to more frequent relapses over time? Researchers in Finland decided...
Imagine a world where detecting important biomarkers like dopamine is as simple as using a portable device. Scientists have designed a special tool called microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) that can do just that. These μPADs have a clever folded structure that lets the analyte solution flow vertically through them. They have two layers: one for color...
You know how some brain cells, called dopamine neurons, send signals by releasing dopamine? Well, these neurons have two main types of activity: regular, low-frequency signals (tonic) that they produce on their own, and quick bursts (phasic) that happen when they get inputs from other cells. Scientists often study these neurons in brain slices outside the body to und...
Have you ever wondered how our brains help us cope with scary experiences? Scientists studied mice to learn more about this. They found that a hormone called gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) plays a big role. When stressed, mice without GRP have a hard time forgetting their fears. This is like how people with PTSD struggle to let go of traumatic memories. Dopamine, a...
Parkinson's disease (PD) patients dealing with impulsive-compulsive behaviors (ICB) face a peculiar challenge: dopaminergic drugs (DD) meant to help them can sometimes disrupt their decision-making skills. Researchers explored this by having PD patients with and without ICB, plus healthy individuals, perform a risk-based task before and after taking DD. In the "drug ...