Summary: A new study has identified a brain protein, vesicular nucleotide transporter (Vnut), as essential for regulating mood and motivation in mice. When Vnut was removed from brain cells called…
Tag: Dopamine
Unexpected Sounds Boost Dopamine, Leading to Riskier Decisions
Summary: A new study shows that unexpected sounds can cause dopamine bursts in the brain, which may lead to riskier decision-making. Researchers found that participants were 4% more likely to…
Hidden Dopamine Neurons Balance Brain Functions and Behavior
Summary: Researchers identified a small group of dopamine neurons in the striatum that play a crucial role in balancing essential brain functions such as reward, cognition, and movement. This discovery…
Study Reveals Dopamine’s Limited Role in Rapid Neural Activity
Summary: A recent study has found that dopamine signals have a minimal impact on rapid neural activity in the striatum, challenging existing theories about dopamine’s role in brain signaling. Using…
Exercise Boosts Motivation to Combat Depression
Summary: A new study suggests that exercise reduces depression by boosting motivation through decreased inflammation and enhanced dopamine function. This understanding could lead to personalized exercise programs as treatment. The…
ADHD brains present unique challenges, but the condition is highly treatable − a primary care nurse practitioner with ADHD explains the science
“My brain has way too many tabs open.” “Why can’t I complete tasks?” “Why do I lose track of time?” “Why can’t I pay attention?” These are all things people…
Dopamine’s Role in Movement Explored
Summary: A new study explains how dopamine influences movement sequences, offering hope for Parkinson’s disease (PD) therapies. Researchers observed that dopamine not only motivates movement but also controls the length…
Love’s Chemistry: How Dopamine Shapes Bonds and Breakups
Summary: Researchers uncover how dopamine, a key neurotransmitter, varies in response to social interactions, distinguishing between intimate and casual relationships. Their research, conducted on prairie voles, sheds light on the…
Dopamine’s Role in Learning from Rewards and Penalties
Summary: Dopamine, a neurotransmitter, plays a vital role in encoding both reward and punishment prediction errors in the human brain. This study suggests that dopamine is essential for learning from…
