Tag

Behavioral Neuroscience

All articles tagged with #behavioral neuroscience

science1 year ago

Rats Revel in Driving Tiny Cars, Scientists Discover

Researchers at the University of Richmond have trained rats to drive small cars, discovering that the rodents not only learn quickly but also seem to enjoy the activity. The study, led by Professor Kelly Lambert, found that rats housed in enriched environments learned faster and showed signs of positive anticipation, such as eagerly jumping into the cars. Further research indicated that anticipation of positive experiences could shift rats' cognitive styles from pessimistic to optimistic, enhancing their problem-solving abilities. This suggests that anticipation and enjoyment of experiences may be key to a healthy brain.

health2 years ago

"Surprising Aggression Side Effects of Ketamine Revealed in Early Life Stress Rodent Models"

New research published in Behavioral Neuroscience reveals that ketamine, a potential treatment for psychiatric disorders such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety, can increase aggression in rodent models of early life stress. The study found that while ketamine did not significantly affect other behavioral measures related to mood disorders, such as fear memory, anxiety-like behavior, and depression-like behavior, it specifically heightened aggressive behavior. These findings highlight the need for caution and further investigation before prescribing ketamine, especially in cases associated with early life traumatic experiences. However, the study was conducted in mice, and more research is needed to determine the direct applicability to humans.