Behavioural Biology

Many people think that the brain’s reward system is the part of the brain that causes addictions. However, there’s one essential aspect that we have to understand here. Having goals is synonymous with health and well-being. Thus, all of this…

The neurobiology of disappointment shows once again that there are aspects in life that the brain experiences in a particularly painful way. That’s why, due to some unknown reason, a person might suffer for longer when they lose an opportunity…

Just as there are neuroanatomic and neurofunctional frameworks to explain human behavior, we also have the neurobiology of alcoholism. In this article, we’ll explain what happens in the brain of a person with alcohol addiction. Alcohol is the most widely-used…

Language is part of your everyday life. It allows you to communicate your needs to others. Can you imagine being unable to pronounce words? This is a reality for people who suffer from dysarthria. In this article, we’ll discuss the common…

Addiction exists in many different facets of human life. The most common and well-known is drug addiction. You might define drug addiction as the compulsive behavior to find and consume drugs, loss of control to limit consumption, and a negative…

Our brain needs neurons to communicate for it to work properly. These interactions are known as synapses. But how exactly do they connect and how many types of synapses exist? There are basically two main forms of synaptic transmission: electrical…

Glutamate is one of the most important neurotransmitters in your nervous system. It acts as the fuel for 80% of your synapses. It’s also the intermediary for memory formation, attention management, and emotional regulation. In addition, it plays a role in…

Attachment is a defining characteristic of mammals. Thus, research on the neurobiology of human attachment is also based on animal research. Recent studies suggest that attachment is based on the interaction of oxytocin and dopamine in the corpus striatum.  What…

Mansplaining is when a man seems unusually condescending or patronizing, especially towards women. This phenomenon references those who follow a more traditional way of behaving and thinking. Although it’s usually subtle, this type of behavior is commonly related to machismo.…

The hypothalamus is an area of the brain that has many functions despite its small size. It plays an important role in the production of hormones. In addition, it helps stimulate many important processes. Thus, when the hypothalamus doesn’t work…

The suprachiasmatic nucleus is located in the anterior region of the hypothalamus and contains about 20,000 neurons. It works as your internal clock, regulating your sleep/wake cycles. Specifically, it receives stimuli through your retina which allows you to be more or…

We all experience pain. Sometimes, even our own organism causes pain by triggering inflammation. Now, although we all feel pain, we’re not well-informed on the sensory neurons that are involved in it. In this article, we’ll be talking about nociceptors,…

Psychophysiology is the branch of psychology that studies the physiological foundation of the brain’s psychological processes. It analyzes behavior and the processes behind it. Since its beginnings in the 19th century, it has always studied the same thing. However, technology…

Humans are social beings and need to be in contact with others in order to survive. Thus, humans can’t develop if they’re isolated. In fact, you may say that interacting with other people is the best way to fully develop the…

The enteric nervous system is often considered our ‘second brain’. It’s a complex network of more than a hundred million neurons that cover specific areas such as the small intestine and colon. Additionally, this system is capable of acting independently of…

Do you feel excited, irritable, or sad for no apparent reason? Do you feel that way constantly? Although there can be many explanations for this, there’s a possibility that your brain may be suffering from low levels of certain substances.…

Anandamide is a compound our body produces. Interestingly, this substance has properties that are very similar to THC, which is the active substance in marijuana. Therefore, many say that this neurotransmitter is a “natural marijuana” that the human body produces.

Acetylcholine is the most abundant neurotransmitter in the nervous system. This chemical that your brain produces mainly from sugar and choline is the essential messenger that helps neurons communicate. Thanks to it, you’re able to regulate attention and memory, learn new information,…

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is one of the main fluids of the human body. Its main function is to protect the brain tissue and the spinal cord. It serves as a cushion against impacts to the central nervous system, the cranium,…

We’ve all heard about how neurons communicate with each other through electric impulses. It’s true that some of the synapses are purely electric, however, chemical elements mediate most of those connections. These chemical substances are called neurotransmitters. Neurons are capable…