Ventral tegmental area

different clinical situations. For example sports scientists are now using the performance profile technique to help implement training programs for athletes. A study concerning the performance profile areas was undertaken in 1998 and examined the effect of altered mood states involving the areas of perceived need for an individual identified by the performance profile (Doyle and Parfitt, 1998). Similarly an experiment conducted during a tutorial was also designed specifically to find the connection

(Carlson, 2013). The mesolimbic system runs through the nucleus accumbens which plays a role in rewarding stimuli (Carlson, 2013). The nucleus accumbens reinforces behavior such as drug addictions. The mesocortical system has neurons in the ventral tegmental area and the prefrontal cortex (Carlson, 2013). The parts of the brain impacted by the

The Biological Aspects of Nicotine Addiction Nicotine is the critical factor in tobacco smoke that dictates addiction and continued use of tobacco (Stolerman and Shoaib 1991; Belfour and Fagerstrom 1996; Benowita 1996; Rose and Corrigall 1997). Markou (2008) stated that “nicotine is one of the main psychoactive ingredients in tobacco that contributes to the harmful tobacco smoking habit (Stolerman & Jarvis 1995; Royal College of Physicians of London 2000) leading to high morbidity and mortality throughout

Heroin Chasing the Deadly Dragon The most dangerous opiate there is, heroin is a potent and quick hitting drug that poses many risks to living an enjoyable life. Opiates like morphine are substances with qualities similar to opium, which derives from the poppy plant. To understand how tempting a painkiller like this might sound to the oblivious person, it is important to know what type of effects that using heroin will bring about. New users typically start by smoking or sniffing it, but like many

Drug abuse is characterized by compulsive drug craving, seeking and use persist in face of negative consequences. Parts of the brain that govern specific functions are: cerebellum-coordination and hippocampus-memory. Information is relayed from one area to another thru complex circuits of interconnected neurons, via electrical impulses called neuron transmission. This process involves a variety of chemical substances called neuron transmitters. One such neuron transmitter is called dopamine. Dopamine

effects. It has also been used to induce pseudo-lesions within the brain to see the impact of lesions in different areas. High frequency is applied non-stop until it induces a temporary lesion where the function is temporarily halted. The impact can be visualized and tested to further the understanding of what each location in the brain does. High-frequency stimulation over the primary motor area was found to cause movement in the contralateral muscles (Rothwell et. al, 1991), while low-frequency stimulation

The interplay between calcium and potassium channels along different regions of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons in age matched normal and SNCA mouse model. Prominent pathological facet of Parkinson’s Disease(PD) is the accumulation of intracytoplasmic lewy bodies caused by dominant mutations in ⍺-synuclein gene (SNCA). Recent studies suggest the role of toxic ⍺-synuclein oligomers in impairing several important cellular activities such as redox stability, mitochondrial functions, proteasomal

events (Swenson, 2006). The cingulate gyrus directs the attention to the fact, letting the rest of the brain know that it is emotionally significant (Swenson, 2006). The ventral tegmental is another part of the brain involved in emotions and love, particularly in how a person perceives pleasure (Swenson, 2006). The different areas of the brain that control emotions are very significant, but how can we connect emotions and learn in a classroom is a whole other

Schizophrenia is described by abnormalities in an individual’s perception and expression of reality (Comer, 357). This abnormal perception and expression significantly interferes with normal daily living and functioning (Comer, 357). Thus, it is classified as a mental illness. Furthermore, it is a mental illness where the individual loses touch with reality-psychosis (NIHM). Schizophrenia and the psychosis state is characterized by 1) delusions (fixed false beliefs), 2) hallucinations (auditory and

Joshuah Kapilivsky Michael Longaker Research Commentary Dr. Longaker’s research pertains to tissue regeneration and tissue engineering. Additionally he has experience exploring developmental biology, particularly the development and use of pluripotent and multipotent cell lines. In Identification and Specification of the Mouse Skeletal Stem Cell (Cell, 2015), the Longaker lab explores the differentiation of skeletal stem cells into bone, cartilage, and stromal tissue. Analyzing mRNA present in the