Dopamine signals when a fear can be forgotten
Study shows how a dopamine circuit between two brain regions enables mice to extinguish fear after a peril has passed.
Molecules that fight infection also act on the brain, inducing anxiety or sociability
New research on a cytokine called IL-17 adds to growing evidence that immune molecules can influence behavior during illness.
New autism research projects represent a broad range of approaches to achieving a shared goal
At a symposium of the Simons Center for the Social Brain, six speakers described a diversity of recently launched studies aimed at improving understanding of the autistic brain.
Scientists identify specific brain region and circuits controlling attention
Norepinephrine-producing neurons in the locus coeruleus produce attention focus, impulse control via two distinct connections to prefrontal cortex.
With these neurons, extinguishing fear is its own reward
The same neurons responsible for encoding reward also form new memories to suppress fearful ones.
Dopamine primes the brain for enhanced vigilance
Neuroscientists discover a circuit that helps redirect attention to focus on potential threats.
Neuroscientists get at the roots of pessimism
Stimulating the brain’s caudate nucleus generates a negative outlook that clouds decision-making.
Newly discovered neural connections may be linked to emotional decision-making
Researchers suspect cells in this brain circuit could also be targets of Parkinson’s disease.
Kay Tye receives Freedman Prize for Exceptional Basic Research
Neuroscientist recognized by the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation for project on neural circuits for anxiety control.
Toward smarter selection of therapy for psychiatric disorders
Researchers find that brain scans can predict the success of treatment for social anxiety disorder.
How we make emotional decisions
Neuroscientists identify a brain circuit that controls decisions that induce high anxiety.
Crowdsourced tool for depression
Peer-to-peer application outperforms conventional self-help technique for easing depression, anxiety.
Temple Grandin: Look at what people can do, not what they can’t
In talks at MIT, noted behavioral expert suggests encouraging skills of people with autism.
Autism as a disorder of prediction
Researchers suggest autism stems from a reduced ability to make predictions, leading to anxiety.
