Brain Circuit for Nausea-Induced Appetite Loss Discovered

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Summary: Researchers identified a brain circuit that curbs eating behavior in mice when they feel nauseous. The study, focusing on the amygdala, discovered specific nerve cells activated by nausea that suppress appetite, distinct from those activated by satiety. These findings demonstrate how different brain circuits are engaged depending on […]

Astrocytes Play Crucial Role in Mental Health

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Summary: New research reveals the pivotal role of astrocytes in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) in modulating risk assessment behaviors, which are often disrupted in mental disorders. The study used advanced techniques to explore how these brain cells influence a specific group of neurons in the BLA that are crucial […]

New Study Unravels Emotional Processing in Depression

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Summary: Researchers shed light on how individuals with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) process emotions differently due to abnormalities in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. By using stereotactic electroencephalography (sEEG), researchers were able to observe how these brain regions react to positive and negative stimuli, revealing a significant imbalance in emotional […]

Study identifies neural connections that regulate prosocial and selfish behavior in mice

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Coronal section of a mouse brain. In red the basolateral amygdala detected using a fluorescent marker Credit: Scheggia et al. Humans and animals can exhibit a wide variety of behaviors when interacting with their peers. These include both prosocial behaviors, voluntary actions aimed at supporting or helping others, and […]

What Causes the Brain’s Emotional Hub to Switch to Negative States?

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Summary: Researchers explore how changes in the patterns of activity in the basolateral amygdala contribute to negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, and depression. Source: Tufts University Tucked into the temporal lobe, near the base of our brain, sits a small, almond-shaped region called the amygdala that processes our […]

Alcohol Changes Brain Activity Differently in Male and Female Mice

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Summary: Alcohol consumption affects amygdala oscillations differently in male and female mice, especially after repeated exposure. Source: SfN Alcohol alters synchronized brain activity in the amygdala of mice, but differently for male and female mice, according to new research published in eNeuro . Alcohol misuse often goes hand-in-hand with […]

Neuroscientists Discover Why the Memory of Fear Is Seared Into Our Brains

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Neuroscientists think they have discovered the mechanism behind the formation of fear memories in the amygdala — the emotional hub of the brain The research was conducted by a team of neuroscientists from Tulane and Tufts universities. Experiencing a frightening event is likely something you’ll never forget. But why […]

Researchers Uncover Brain Waves Related to Social Behavior

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Summary: Study reveals brain wave activity in the medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala associated with social behavior in mice. Source: Tohoku University Researchers at Tohoku University and the University of Tokyo have discovered electrical wave patterns in the brain related to social behavior in mice. They also observed that […]

Activating an amygdala-brainstem pathway relieves pain and improves emotional state in rats

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image: Selective activation of amygdala neurons projecting to the brainstem parabrachial nucleus alleviated pain and fear, and promoted positive affect in rats. The schematic diagram shows a working model in which pain drives negative emotion by affecting parabrachial neurons, while amygdala input to the parabrachial drives positive emotion. Activation […]

Activating an Amygdala-Brainstem Pathway Relieves Pain and Improves Emotional State in Rats

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Summary: Researchers report activating a pathway between the amygdala and brain stem helps to relieve pain and reduce defensive behaviors in rat models. Source: SfN Activating a circuit between the amygdala and brainstem relieves pain and reduces defensive behaviors in rats, according to research recently published in Journal of […]