Neuroscience

Dopamine primes the brain for enhanced vigilance

Imagine a herd of deer grazing in the forest. Suddenly, a twig snaps nearby, and they look up from the grass. The thought of food is forgotten, and the animals are primed to respond to any threat that might appear.

Addiction

Protein links alcohol abuse and changes in brain's reward center

When given access to alcohol, over time mice develop a pattern similar to what we would call "problem drinking" in people, but the brain mechanisms that drive this shift have been unclear. Now a team of UC San Francisco researchers ...

Health

Junk food can harm memory in a week

(Medical Xpress)—Even a short-term diet of junk food can have a detrimental effect on the brain's cognitive ability, according to UNSW research.

Psychology & Psychiatry

Sugar boosts self-control, study says

(Medical Xpress)—To boost self-control, gargle sugar water. According to a study co-authored by University of Georgia professor of psychology Leonard Martin published Oct. 22 in Psychological Science, a mouth rinse with ...

Health

The secret life of sugar

Without it, cake wouldn't be nearly as tempting. Ice cream as enticing. Fruits as flavorful. Pastries as scrumptious. Cream puffs as scrumdiddlyumptious. There's no denying it: sugar is music to our mouths.

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