Key Questions Answered Q: How does genetic risk for depression affect the brain?A: Young adults with a higher genetic predisposition to depression showed reduced brain activity in key areas linked…
Tag: reward system
Flavored Vapes Trigger Reward Centers Even Without Nicotine
Summary: A new study shows that some e-cigarette flavorings, like vanilla and cherry, can trigger reward-seeking behaviors in adolescent mice even without nicotine. Researchers found that these flavors alone could…
Targeting Reward Pathways to Treat Depression
Summary: New research highlights how the brain’s reward-learning system can guide personalized treatments for depression. By studying two brain signals, expected value and prediction error, researchers identified markers that predict…
Teen Brain’s Blunted Reward Response Predicts Depression Onset
Summary: A new study reveals that a reduced neural response to rewards in teens predicts the first onset of depression, but not anxiety or suicidality. Researchers used EEG scans to…
Individual Reward-Seeking Predicts Nicotine Response
Summary: A new study finds that individualistic reward-seeking behaviors in mice can predict their responses to nicotine. Conducted in a semi-natural environment called Souris-City, the research observed how male mice…
Beta Brain Waves: A Novel Brain Signature for Depression
Summary: A new study identifies beta frequency neural activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as crucial for recognizing rewards and shaping behavior. This neural signature is altered in patients…
