Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Hao-Di Tang, Wan-Ying Dong, Rui Hu, Ji-Ye Huang, Zhao-Huang Huang, Wei Xiong, Tian Xue, Ji Liu, Jun-Ma Yu, Xia Zhu, Zhi Zhang
Summary: This study uncovers the neuronal circuits involved in reduced feeding behavior in a mouse model of persistent pain. It identifies a pathway from glutamatergic neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex to glutamatergic neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area, which leads to decreased appetite through the activity of pro-opiomelanocortin neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. Inhibiting this circuit can alleviate feeding suppression symptoms and may serve as a potential target for pain-associated diseases.
Article
Neurosciences
Philip T. Putnam, Cheng-Chi J. Chu, Nicholas A. Fagan, Olga Dal Monte, Steve W. C. Chang
Summary: This study investigates the effects of vicarious reward and experienced reward on primates and discovers the neuronal interaction between the anterior cingulate cortex gyrus (ACCg) and the basolateral amygdala (BLA) in different frequencies. The results suggest that following voluntary choices, vicarious reward and experienced reward exhibit enhanced couplings in different frequencies, and the reward outcomes consistently have strong directional influences from the ACCg to the BLA.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Derek Schaeuble, Tyler Wallace, Sebastian A. Pace, Shane T. Hentges, Brent Myers
Summary: Depression and cardiovascular disease are influenced by daily life stress, but the biological mechanisms behind this connection are not well understood. This study shows that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) plays a role in regulating stress responses and behavior, with sex-specific effects. In males, the vmPFC-PH circuitry promotes positive motivation and reduces stress responses, while in females it elevates stress responses. This suggests that cortical regulation of stress reactivity and behavior is mediated by projections to the hypothalamus in a sex-specific manner.
PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Anna Soine, Alessandra Natascha Floeck, Peter Walla
Summary: This study investigates the impact of social presence on neural processes and decision-making mechanisms using EEG and SCR. Results show significant changes in brain potential and skin conductance responses when exposed to neutral pictures in the presence of a significant other, indicating that the presence of another person can alter how individuals process, perceive, and act on stimuli.
Article
Neurosciences
Kengo Takahashi, Filip Sobczak, Patricia Pais-Roldan, Xin Yu
Summary: Pupil dynamics show varied correlation features with brain activity under different vigilant levels. The lateral hypothalamus plays a role in regulating arousal through the anterior cingulate cortex, and this regulation may be related to the correlation of pupil dynamics.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomas Baumgartner, Emmanuel Guizar Rosales, Daria Knoch
Summary: This study used fMRI to explore the neural mechanisms underlying interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior. The results showed that neural communication within and between the mentalizing and cognitive control networks is related to these differences. The findings suggest that the engagement of perspectivetaking and self-control processes are important factors contributing to interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Seong-Wook Kim, Minsoo Kim, Hee-Sup Shin
Summary: Empathy is crucial for humans as social animals, involving the cognitive process of perceiving and sharing others' affective state through emotional contagion. Studies on the observational fear assay in animals have shown that this behavior is mediated by neural circuits processing the affective dimension of direct pain experiences. Mice can also respond to social stimuli induced by emotional changes in other mice, which may not rely on affective pain circuits. Future research should explore how various neural circuits contribute to integrating different dimensions of affective empathy.
CURRENT OPINION IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Maria Natalia Gobetto, Carlota Gonzalez-Inchauspe, Osvaldo D. Uchitel
Summary: ASIC1a channels play a crucial role in neural signal transduction and synaptic plasticity, influencing physiological and pathological processes such as learning, memory, and chronic pain. Modulators like histamine and corticosterone regulate synaptic plasticity through ASIC1a channels.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Layla Banihashemi, Christine W. Peng, Anusha Rangarajan, Helmet T. Karim, Meredith L. Wallace, Brandon M. Sibbach, Jaspreet Singh, Mark M. Stinley, Anne Germain, Howard J. Aizenstein
Summary: Childhood adversity is associated with altered stress reactivity into adulthood. This study found that childhood threat is related to altered resting-state connectivity within central visceral neural circuits, while childhood socioeconomic deprivation does not have a significant impact on connectivity. Furthermore, threat-related connectivity is associated with the number of emotional diagnoses.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Cristina Martin-Perez, Oren Contreras-Rodriguez, Antoni Pastor, Erynn Christensen, Zane B. Andrews, Rafael de la Torre, Antonio Verdejo-Garcia
Summary: The study found that peripheral AEA concentrations are sensitive to homeostatic changes and correlated with neural communication in reward and salience networks. These findings have significant implications for understanding normal and abnormal interactions between homeostatic input and reward valuation.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Masaki Isoda
Summary: Reward valuation in social contexts is relative and involves comparisons and competitions with others. This process involves shared neural networks centered at the medial prefrontal cortex and dopamine-related subcortical regions in both humans and nonhuman primates.
CURRENT OPINION IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Benno Bremer, Qiong Wu, Maria Guadalupe Mora Alvarez, Britta Karen Hoelzel, Maximilian Wilhelm, Elena Hell, Ebru Ecem Tavacioglu, Alyssa Torske, Kathrin Koch
Summary: Recent research has shown that mindfulness meditation training has a positive impact on brain health and cognition by increasing functional connectivity between different networks.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Yu Xing, Chunfang Zan, Lu Liu
Summary: Neural circuits are networks of interconnected neurons connected by synapses, and aberrant circuits can lead to neurological diseases. Single-cell sequencing has provided insights into neuronal diversity and molecular signatures of circuits, and has the potential to identify targets for treatment. The characterization of neuron subtypes and their connectivity patterns is critical for understanding neural circuit properties and region-dependent interactions.
FRONTIERS IN NEURAL CIRCUITS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Valerio Alfieri, Andrea Mattera, Gianluca Baldassarre
Summary: This study presents a computational model of social avoidance, offering integrated hypotheses on the macro organization of the brain system underlying this behavior. The model is validated by explaining empirical findings and generating predictions for future experiments.
FRONTIERS IN SYSTEMS NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biology
Anna Soine, Peter Walla
Summary: This study is a follow-up ERP analysis of a previous investigation. The results suggest that female participants showed more negative ERPs in the mid-frontal brain region when exposed to neutral pictures in a social presence condition, whereas this effect was not found in male participants. This finding suggests a potential sex difference in the neural response to neutral stimuli in a social context.