neuropharmacology

Depression is often described as persistent sadness, but for many people the illness goes much deeper than feeling unhappy. One of the most painful symptoms is the loss of motivation, enjoyment, and interest in life. Activities that once brought happiness may suddenly feel empty. Hobbies become difficult to enjoy, social gatherings lose their appeal, and […] The post Parkinson’s Drug May Help Tre…

Neuropsychopharmacology, Published online: 11 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41386-026-02460-9 Nucleus accumbens medial shell D1 and D2 medium spiny neurons signal the valence of conditioned stimuli in a sex-dependent manner

By applying overlapping electrical currents to the scalp, researchers have successfully reduced tremors and movement slowness in people with Parkinson's disease. This approach targets deep brain regions without the physical risks of surgery.

Nature Neuroscience, Published online: 12 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41593-026-02330-z Striatal direct and indirect pathways jointly control how many actions are performed during counting, and how animals move toward specific goals. These pathways implement a push–pull controller for discrete action counting as well as continuous movement control.

Brain–machine interfaces (BMIs) are no longer just science fiction; they are the gateway to a future where thought itself can interact directly with technology. These systems read the brain’s electrical activity and, in turn, stimulate neurons — forming a two-way communication link between biology and machines. In just a few decades, BMIs have evolved from […]

Nature Communications, Published online: 12 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74226-2 The basolateral amygdala dopamine system has received little attention. Here, authors show that BLA dopamine plays a unique role in learning, by encoding the emotional salience of sensory cues to support dynamic disambiguation of affective states.

Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, Published online: 12 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41401-026-01836-3 Sevoflurane-induced disruption of critical period Arc signaling drives aberrant microglial synaptic pruning and cognitive deficits

Scientists at the University of Hong Kong have created a remarkable new type of brain-inspired chip that can function just above absolute zero, one of the coldest environments imaginable. By using a standard silicon carbide transistor in a completely new way, the team made a single device behave like an energy-efficient neuron, firing electrical “spikes” similar to those in the human brain.

IntroductionVolatile anesthetics, such as isoflurane, generate a state of unconsciousness and analgesia across the animal kingdom and are widely used in clinical settings. Yet, anesthetic mechanisms are poorly understood: the volatile anesthetics are so profligate in their potential effects that it has proven difficult to determine which actions are most causal at the systems level.MethodsTo test…

Fentanyl and related variants of the synthetic opioid kill more Americans each year than car accidents and gun violence combined. In too-high doses, the drugs hijack brain chemistry and shut down the signals that control breathing.

USC Viterbi's Maryam Shanechi aims to develop AI models to improve neuromodulation and enable adaptive treatment for cerebellar disorders The post USC Researcher to Lead $2.4M AI Core for Raynor Cerebellum Project Treating Cerebellar Disorders appeared first on USC Viterbi | School of Engineering .

Background/aimsTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has emerged as a promising intervention in both rehabilitation and cognitive enhancement, yet its effects remain inconsistent across studies. This variability has raised questions about the underlying mechanisms influencing tDCS efficacy.MethodsIn this review, we address the issue of the inconsistent effect of tDCS on motor and cogniti…

BackgroundDepression is common among elective lumbar spine surgery candidates and is associated with worse postoperative outcomes. Home-based transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has demonstrated safety and feasibility, with evidence of antidepressant effects in remote randomized and open-label studies of major depressive disorder (MDD). Whether this approach can be feasibly and accepta…

Author: Dr. Dipesh Chaudhury Affiliations: New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) Key themes: • United Arab Emirates (UAE) • Neuroscience research • Mental health • Brain development • Neural circuits • Human cognition • Brain plasticity • Memory • Behaviour • Gene regulation • Sleep and circadian rhythms • Scientific growth Reflection #22 The United […] The post 50 Reflections on Neuroscience – #…

Neuropsychopharmacology, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41386-026-02453-8 Effort, timing and choice: a refined rodent effort choice task with excellent sensitivity to dopamine modulators

BackgroundAlcohol dependence is frequently accompanied by cognitive impairment. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling plays a critical role in synaptic plasticity, while the precursor form, proBDNF, has been increasingly implicated in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. However, the association between plasma proBDNF levels and cognitive impairment in alcohol dependence rema…

ObjectiveImmediate postictal potentiation (PIP), a unique phenomenon observed in immature animals, may contribute to the enhanced sensitivity of young animals to seizures and epilepsy. PIP deserves more experimental attention because understanding its mechanisms could provide valuable insights into treating these conditions.MethodsUsing the technique of cortical afterdischarges (ADs), we analyzed…

Angine de Poitrine don't abide by the usual rules of Western music, using their own custom-built guitar to strike notes that shouldn't exist

IntroductionTau pathology is a major feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and multiple other adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases. Aberrant exposure of an N-terminal phosphatase-activating domain (PAD) is characteristic of pathological tau, representing a toxic gain of function. Exposure of the PAD in pathological tau leads to dysregulation of protein phosphatase 1/glycogen synthase kinase 3 (PP…

Find out about some early-stage technologies in neurology that aim to go beyond amyloid, dopamine, and what has dominated the field. The post Beyond amyloid and dopamine: emerging technologies reshaping neurology appeared first on Labiotech.eu . © Labiotech UG and Labiotech.eu. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/…