Monthly Archives: October 2017

The reward generated by social interactions is critical for promoting prosocial behaviors. Here Hung and colleagues present evidence that oxytocin release in the ventral tegmental area, a key component of the brain’s reward circuitry, is necessary to elicit social reward. … Continue reading

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Abstract:  Prevention of deterioration of brain function over time is important in the long-term management of chronic brain disorders such as dementia, schizophrenia, and mood disorders. Although the possibility of neurogenesis in the adult human brain is attractive, and there … Continue reading

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The purpose of this paper was to study whether exercise provides protection against new-onset depression and anxiety, to study the intensity and amount of exercise required to gain protection and to determine what mechanisms may underlie these associations. 33,908 adults having no symptoms of common mental disorder or limiting … Continue reading

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Gut bacteria from multiple sclerosis patients were investigated for their immunoregulatory effects in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. The authors identified specific bacteria that are associated with multiple sclerosis and demonstrated that these bacteria regulate T lymphocyte-mediated adaptive immune … Continue reading

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Subjective cognitive decline (SCD), or self-perceived worsening of cognitive function in the absence of objective cognitive deficits, has attracted significant scientific attention, because it might reflect the earliest signs of an emerging neurodegenerative disease. Recently, investigators have struggled to standardize the … Continue reading

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“Some of the most fascinating questions in theology and philosophy are now being tackled by the social and affective neurosciences. For example, are people inherently good? Are our capacities for love, empathy, and altruism uniquely human?  …  The fundamental components … Continue reading

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