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Study finds key physical difference in the brains of people with PTSD

The part of the brain that helps control emotion may be larger in people who develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after brain injury compared to those with a brain injury without PTSD, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's Sports Concussion Conference in Jacksonville, Fla., July 14 to 16, 2017.

11 Jul 2017

UCLA study: Changes in brain regions may hold key to why some people prefer order and certainty

Why do some people prefer stable, predictable lives while others prefer frequent changes? Why do some people make rational decisions and others, impulsive and reckless ones? UCLA behavioral neuroscientists have identified changes in two brain regions that may hold answers to these questions.

10 Jul 2017

Scientists identify neurons that play crucial roles in connecting emotions and sleep

You may have experienced sleepless nights when you were anxious, stressed or too excited. Such emotions are well-known to affect wakefulness and can even cause insomnia, though the underlying mechanisms in our brain have still been unclear.

3 Jul 2017

New study sheds light on how the brain coordinates complex decisions involving altruism and empathy

It's a classic conundrum: while rushing to get to an important meeting or appointment on time, you spot a stranger in distress. How do you decide whether to stop and help, or continue on your way?

23 Jun 2017

Japanese scientists show how male pheromone enhances female sexual behavior in mice

A study by a group of Japanese scientists showed how a male pheromone in mice enhances sexual behaviors in females--and how it may enhance a different behavior, aggression, in males -- by identifying distinct neural circuits and neurons that generate a particular behavioral response to specific chemical signals.

22 Jun 2017

Researchers exploring impact of emotional spillover in the brain

Life is full of emotional highs and lows, ranging from enjoying an activity with a loved one and savoring a delicious meal to feeling hurt by a negative interaction with a co-worker or that recent scuffle with a family member.

16 Jun 2017

Study reveals neurobehavioral impact of chronic alcohol-vapor exposure during adolescence

The developmental period from adolescence to adulthood is accompanied by a greater vulnerability to addictions – including alcohol use disorders – than is seen in other periods of life.

15 Jun 2017

Scientists show how brain circuits govern hunger and cravings

The urge to satisfy hunger is a primal one, but – as any dieter knows – choices about when and what to eat can be influenced by cues in the environment, not just how long it's been since breakfast.

14 Jun 2017

Neuroimaging measures of emotional brain function may help predict PTSD

Neuroimaging measures of emotional brain function after acute trauma may help predict whether a person will develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a new study in Biological Psychiatry.

8 Jun 2017

EFMT technology results in greater reduction of major depressive disorder symptoms

A treatment for depression using Emotional Faces Memory Task (EFMT), a technology originally developed by two Mount Sinai researchers, resulted in a significantly greater reduction of major depressive disorder (MDD) symptoms compared to a control group, according to initial clinical results presented at the Society of Biological Psychiatry Annual Scientific Convention on May 19, 2017, in San Diego.

5 Jun 2017

Study provides greater understanding of psychology behind fear

What happens in the brain when we see other people experiencing a trauma or being subjected to pain? Well, the same regions that are involved when we feel pain ourselves are also activated when we observe other people who appear to be going through some painful experience.

25 May 2017

Research could lead to development of new therapies that reduce pathological fear in PTSD

Research published by scientists at the University of California, Riverside on "fear memory" could lead to the development of therapies that reduce the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

16 May 2017

Research findings shed light on brain’s ability to make split-second decisions

When animals hunt or forage for food, they must constantly weigh whether the chance of a meal is worth the risk of being spotted by a predator. The same conflict between cost and benefit is at the heart of many of the decisions humans make on a daily basis.

25 Apr 2017

Caltech researchers discover brain region that judges intensity, ambiguity of facial expressions

Have you ever thought someone was angry at you, but it turned out you were just misreading their facial expression? Caltech researchers have now discovered that one specific region of the brain, called the amygdala, is involved in making these (sometimes inaccurate) judgments about ambiguous or intense emotions.

25 Apr 2017

Alcoholism may have different effects on the brain’s reward system of women than in men

A collaborative study between researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston University School of Medicine has found evidence implying that alcoholism may have different effects on the reward system in the brains of women than it does in men.

21 Apr 2017

TSRI study could lead to personalized treatments for alcohol dependence

A new study led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute could help researchers develop personalized treatments for alcoholism and alcohol use disorder.

12 Apr 2017

History of early life abuse may affect concentration abilities

Does a history of abuse before the age of 18 affect later capacity to concentrate and stay focused? According to a new study Veterans with a history of physical or sexual abuse or witnessing family violence before the age of 18 have a reduced ability to concentrate compared to Veterans who were not abused

10 Apr 2017

Neurons derived from precursor cells may regulate innate reproductive and aggressive behaviors

Neurons derived from two different types of precursor cells that later develop into neurons in the medial amygdala - one of the interconnected structures in the brain involved in emotion, motivation and memory - help to program innate reproductive and aggressive behaviors into the brain, research led by Children's National Health System indicates.

7 Apr 2017

Method based on genetic information predicts response to drugs in epileptic patients

Researchers affiliated with the University of Campinas in São Paulo State, Brazil, have shown that genetic information can be used to improve early prediction of the response to drugs in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), one of the most severe forms of epilepsy.

5 Apr 2017

Sleep deprivation hinders ability to identify facial expressions, study finds

After a rough night's sleep, your ability to recognize whether those around you are happy or sad could suffer, according to a study led by a University of Arizona psychologist.

23 Mar 2017