Posted on 10/14/2019 10:45:03 AM PDT by BenLurkin
In the 1950s, researchers stumbled upon a new class of drugs that provided relief for those suffering from schizophrenia. These drugs were known as antipsychotics and, as the name suggests, they reduced symptoms like hallucinations and delusions — primarily by reducing the levels of dopamine in the brain. This led clinicians and scientists to argue that dopamine was linked to the experiences of psychotic symptoms, and a concerted research effort ensued, seeking to solve the puzzle of why excess dopamine might produce hallucinations.
Although it was later shown that increasing dopamine could produce hallucinations, establishing a consistent link between them, it has not been clear why.
They achieved this by taking advantage of a simple fact: Your brain is lazy. It makes shortcuts to understand the deluge of information that bombards it daily. If you’re presented with consistent information, consistently, your brain adjust its expectations of reality in turn. This is the basis of Bayesian theories of how we perceive the world – that is, the brain makes inferences about the world around us based on statistics and probabilities on what is likely to occur.
[I]ncreasing dopamine made it more difficult for participants to adjust their perception — an effect comparable to how the hallucinators had struggled. Moreover, the extent to which participants struggled was strongly associated with the severity of hallucinations — but not with any diagnosis of schizophrenia. In other words, the difficulty appeared to be associated with a symptom, not a diagnosis.
Using brain imaging, the researchers also showed that an increased capacity for dopamine release, from a part of the brain known as the striatum (an area involved in schizophrenia), was associated with the severity of hallucinations. Together, these experiments showed that excess dopamine was associated with difficulty in accurately predicting reality.
(Excerpt) Read more at inverse.com ...
Mysterious disappearing batteries, salute! (As good old rrrod would say.)
We have sunshine this morning, and supposed to be warmer today and tomorrow.
Aww...what a squeeful floof!
Good morning.
I’ve been to Walmart and got some Rhodes cinnamon rolls because I like them better than the Grands, though those are very good!
The roads were wet, but it wasn’t raining. It will be soon, though, accordion to the weather foreguessers. The clouds are low enough that Pine Valley Mountain is invisible.
my Favorite Daughter and my Favorite Sister decided that I needed to give them my time, but at least they took turns. :o])
Tom the Son bought a car yesterday.
Well, the new battery was about as effective as the missing one, so that means, I think, that I need to price out a new alarm. I don’t know how old this one is, but I’ve had the truck seven years in March so a new alarm is probably a good idea.
I have to go out in a while and get the water, and put the cover on the windshield. I probably should have done it when I first got home, in case it freezes today.
Good for him! One step closer to moving out and being on his own. Good job, Tom!
Re: your tagline.
There are a few whom I almost wish would have. Two are former Presidents and one ran for the office.
Merry Christmas Eve, all.
And a Merry Christmas as well. I may be able to poke back in this morning, but I may not. And then I’ll return on the 26th from NYC.
Ah, the joys of the first car. There’s the first car insurance payment, the first car payment, and the first dent.
I almost miss those days.
Whadhe get?
Thank you.
A Volvo.
He paid cash. He’s been paying us for his insurance for a couple of years. His own policy might be cheaper, since he doesn’t need collision insurance on it, or the hugh liability limits we have.
Well, that’s a good, sensible car. I wonder how you talked him into it?
My first car was a Pontiac Sunbird (tiny Firebird).
He picked it himself. His parameters were under $5,000, big enough for him to sit in it (Tom is 6’4”, 275 lbs.), and likely to keep going for at least two years.
Merry Christmas Eve, y’all.
Army yoga p0rn?
Chess piece (pawn, bishop)?
U2.
*tagline repair*
I know a few people like that, though they aren’t famous. Rather, infamous on a small scale.
LOL!!!
I want one! :o])
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.