A recent study identified that young autistic children with lower clinical severity and greater eye contact are more likely to respond positively to intranasal oxytocin treatment. Highlights: Response Rate: 61.5% of one identified autism subtype responded to oxytocin, compared to only 13.3% of the other subtype. Predictive Measures: Baseline measures of lower initial clinical severity …
This study found that individuals with the AG/GG genotype of the A118G SNP in the OPRM1 gene experienced more pleasant and fewer unpleasant effects from hydromorphone compared to those with the AA genotype, suggesting genotype-based differences in opioid sensitivity. Highlights: Positive Effects: Participants with the AG/GG genotype reported significantly more positive effects (e.g., good effects, …
Individuals at risk for cannabis use disorder (CUD) exhibit increased dynamic fluidity and altered connectivity patterns in brain networks, suggesting early changes in brain function that may contribute to cannabis addiction risk. Highlights: At-risk individuals for cannabis addiction show a greater number of meta-states and more frequent transitions between them, indicating higher dynamic fluidity in …
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with impairments in dopamine (DA) neurotransmission, with significant differences in DA release, receptor availability, and transporter density observed across different levels of alcohol consumption and stages of AUD. Highlights: Acute Alcohol Effects: Social drinkers exhibit a dopamine release in the striatum, particularly the ventral striatum, after acute alcohol consumption, …
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) at 2-mA intensity effectively alleviates depressive symptoms and shows promise in reducing anxiety symptoms across various clinical conditions. Highlights: tDCS targeting the left DLPFC significantly reduces depressive symptoms, highlighting it as a transdiagnostic neural mechanism across diverse clinical conditions. The meta-analysis showed that …
A small-molecule oxytocin receptor-specific agonist, LIT-001, differentially affects the acquisition and expression of partner preference in prairie voles, enhancing bonding when administered before cohabitation but inhibiting it when given afterward. Highlights: LIT-001 Enhances Bonding Pre-Cohabitation: Administration of LIT-001 (10 mg/kg) before a 4-hour cohabitation period facilitated the acquisition of partner preference in male prairie voles. …
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) reveals significant retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, correlating with disease severity and suggesting OCT as a potential biomarker for PD diagnosis and monitoring. Highlights: RNFL Thinning: Parkinson’s disease patients exhibit significant thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) compared to non-PD individuals (p = …
Long-term practitioners of Orgasmic Meditation (OM) show distinct patterns of reduced brain metabolism compared to non-meditators, with significant differences in various brain regions involved in cognition, attention, and emotional regulation. Highlights: Reduced Metabolism: OM practitioners exhibit significantly lower metabolic activity in the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes, as well as the anterior cingulate, insula, and …
High-intensity exercise (HIIE) leads to significant changes in brain activity, specifically in regions linked to dopaminergic and μ-opioidergic neurotransmission, which are associated with a mood boost. Highlights: Positive Mood Effects: Both low- and high-intensity exercise increased positive affect, as measured by the PANAS Positive Affect scale. Brain Activity Changes: HIIE resulted in significant decreases in …
Necrostatin-1, an inhibitor of necroptosis, exhibits significant neuroprotective effects and potential therapeutic applications in various neurological disorders by modulating cell death pathways, inflammation, and reactive oxygen species. Highlights: Mechanism of Action: Necrostatin-1 specifically inhibits receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIP1), preventing necroptosis and other cell death pathways, including apoptosis and ferroptosis. Neuroprotective Role: It shows promise in …
