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Dopamine
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, one of those chemicals that is responsible for transmitting signals in between the nerve cells (neurons) of the brain. Very few neurons actually make dopamine. Some, in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra, are the cells that die during Parkinsons disease. The functions of others, located in a part of the brain called the ventral tegmental area (VTA), are less well defined and are the major source of the aforementioned controversy (and the focus of this post). When dopamine neurons become activated, they release dopamine.
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FEB 14, 2018
Videos
What's love got to do with it? Well, in the brain, that is a complex question. Yes, love is a difficult concept to defin
...
Written By:
Brenda Kelley Kim
FEB 13, 2018
Infographics
What is “love” anyway? A feeling? A chemical reaction? A connection? Maybe a combination of these ideals and
...
Written By:
Jennifer Ellis
FEB 08, 2018
Cannabis Sciences
The endocannabinoid system is a unique regulatory neurotransmitter system in the body.
Written By:
Mauri Brueggeman
FEB 01, 2018
Cell & Molecular Biology
Kids with autism are less social, and one researcher adapted a common game to learn more about why.
Written By:
Carmen Leitch
JAN 31, 2018
Cell & Molecular Biology
Around 1.6 percent of adults take antipsychotic medication, according to one study, but their mode of efficacy is not we
...
Written By:
Carmen Leitch
DEC 28, 2017
Cell & Molecular Biology
We know that regular exercise is good for us, and now researchers have learned more about why vigorous activity can ease
...
Written By:
Carmen Leitch
DEC 20, 2017
Genetics & Genomics
How well do you think on your feet after a miserable night's sleep?
Written By:
Carmen Leitch
DEC 19, 2017
Drug Discovery & Development
Group resolves D4 dopamine receptor crystal structure for drug discovery
Written By:
Courtney Schaal
NOV 26, 2017
Cell & Molecular Biology
As a species, humans have close living relatives in other primates. Researchers have been looking at the things that mak
...
Written By:
Carmen Leitch
NOV 01, 2017
Videos
You are what you eat? Well, not literally, but the brain is impacted by your diet. While a healthy diet will keep blood
...
Written By:
Brenda Kelley Kim
OCT 31, 2017
Genetics & Genomics
Researchers are learning more about the normal function of the gene that is the most common genetic cause of late-onset
...
Written By:
Carmen Leitch
OCT 19, 2017
Videos
When the brain has to learn new skills and adapt to new environments, that process is called "neuroplasticity." It's cru
...
Written By:
Brenda Kelley Kim
OCT 02, 2017
Neuroscience
As we age, mobility can become an issue. Some people will have normal age-related trouble like arthritis or reduced fitn
...
Written By:
Brenda Kelley Kim
SEP 28, 2017
Immunology
A unique interaction between immune cells and the nervous system could explain why older people have more belly fat - an
...
Written By:
Kara Marker
AUG 18, 2017
Microbiology
Ever heard of PANDAS? No, not the bumbling, black and white bears. PANDAS stands for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatr
...
Written By:
Kerry Evans
AUG 02, 2017
Neuroscience
Patients who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) are often isolated socially because of the impairme
...
Written By:
Brenda Kelley Kim
JUL 31, 2017
Immunology
Parkinson’s disease (PD), a condition usually associated with the nervous system, appears to have a connection to
...
Written By:
Kara Marker
JUL 18, 2017
Videos
Many people enjoy a cold beer on a hot day or a cocktail or glass of wine, and while the taste of certain drinks is appe
...
Written By:
Brenda Kelley Kim
JUL 12, 2017
Neuroscience
While some scientific news can be boring or unecessarily complex, a new study is pretty straightforward and definitely n
...
Written By:
Brenda Kelley Kim
JUL 06, 2017
Videos
Restless leg syndrome, known as RLS in the medical world, is a real condition, and it's more than just feeling jittery i
...
Written By:
Kathryn DeMuth Sullivan
JUN 03, 2017
Videos
ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactive disorder, is the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder among children and
...
Written By:
Kathryn DeMuth Sullivan
MAY 17, 2017
Videos
According to 2012 data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 2 million Americans are addicted to
...
APR 18, 2017
Neuroscience
Overactive bladder, or OAB, is common in elderly women but two recent research studies show that the most commonly presc
...
Written By:
Brenda Kelley Kim