Neurons in the primary visual cortex respond selectively to lines and edges of visual images, allowing the brain to distinguish their orientation, according to a new study. The research focuses on the crucial role inhibitory synapses play in recognizing orientation and may have implications for treating decreased cognitive function in the aging brain. Huizhong W.…
Category: Neuroscience
What Is The Nucleus Accumbens?
The nucleus accumbens is a region in the basal forebrain rostral to the preoptic area of the hypothalamus. The nucleus accumbens and the olfactory tubercle collectively form the ventral striatum, which is part of the basal ganglia. Each cerebral hemisphere has its own nucleus accumbens (NAc or NAcc), which can be divided into two structures:…
Dopamine Pathways
Dopamine pathways, sometimes called dopaminergic projections, are the sets of projection neurons in the brain that synthesize and release the neurotransmitter dopamine. Individual neurons in these pathways are referred to as dopamine neurons. Dopamine neurons have axons that run the entire length of the pathway. The neurons’ somata produce the enzymes that synthesize dopamine, and…
Socioeconomic Status Affects How Your Brain Responds To Others
Our own social status influences the way our brains respond to others of higher or lower rank, according to a study reported in Current Biology. People of higher subjective socioeconomic status show greater brain activity in response to other high-ranked individuals, while those with lower status have a greater response to other low-status individuals. These…
What is Dopamine?
Dopamine (contracted from 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) is a hormone (also known as Prolactin Inhibiting Hormone/Factor – PIH or PIF) a neurotransmitter of the catecholamine and phenethylamine families that plays a number of important roles in the human brain and body. Its name derives from its chemical structure: it is an amine that is formed by removing a…
How Circadian Rhythms Drive Us
Do we control our body clocks or do those clocks, ticking imperceptibly, control us? It’s the kind of question that keeps sleep scientists awake at night. Rhythms are a good place to start. They are a part of life on earth. The cycle of the seasons, the cycle of day and night and the cycle…
Anxiety Vulnerability Linked to Neural Mechanisms
A new study reveals neural mechanisms that may contribute to resilience against pathological fear and anxiety. The research looks at the anxious brain during a fear conditioning task and provides insight into why some individuals may be more or less prone to anxiety disorders. It’s findings may help to direct therapeutic strategies for individuals who…
What is the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex?
The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is a part of the prefrontal cortex in the brain. The ventral medial prefrontal is located in the frontal lobe at the bottom of the cerebral hemispheres and is implicated in the processing of risk and fear. It also plays a role in the inhibition of emotional responses, and in…
10 Conditions Misdiagnosed as Parkinson's Disease
Parkinsons disease, especially in its early stages when symptoms are mild, is not an easy disease to diagnose. The non-specific, and easily overlooked nature of the signs of Parkinsons make it difficult to spot, and unlike many illnesses, there is no one laboratory test or radiological exam that will provide a definitive diagnosis of Parkinsons…