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 ...
I’m sure Sharon would let you hug her foster kittens if you were nearby.
I named the little brown bat “Angel.” I considered “Spectre,” but his face is too sweet for that.
Cool name for the stuffed bat baby. I’d have to find another suitable name, though I’m still awaiting a pic... As my niece Kara sez: Pictures or it didn’t happen!
I got a big ad in the mail for a Papa Murphy pizza deal and I would be sorely tempted, especially since the sale starts on the 22, which is my late mother’s birthday. But, ohwell. Maybe they will have another deal by payday.
I’ve been busy this morning, but I don’t think I got anything done of note. I have to go out and bring in the water from the truck and then put the Frost Guard on the windshield because the sky was pretty red a while ago. And the storms up north disturb my peace of mind. Four hundred miles isn’t all that far, weather-wise.
Thank you.
*tagline*
What a beautiful Morning Floof! Thanks!!
Good morning.
I’ve had my shower and I’m about ready to go make the bed and then try to write a couple of letters. I don’t know how that’s going to work, but I hope at least one is done this morning.
I’m not feeling all that great, but I’ll be OK. I think.
Good morning. This beautiful Siamese is the mother of yesterday’s fluffy gray-stripe kitten. Or was it yellow? She had a whole litter. Hopefully the poster has had her spayed.
I’m thinking about a shower, too, but I plan to give Kathleen a bath first, as soon as she finished breakfast.
I agree that the only should have this mama spayed, but that’s probably because I’ve seen far too many cats dead on the side of the road.
And rescued too many flea and ear mite infested kittens. Shelters won’t take them with ear mites. If they do, they are destroyed within the hour.
I haven’t gotten started on the letters, but I was going going to as soon as I checked FR. Here I am!
A few minutes ago, I looked outside and saw that the security light in front of my parking spot is out. More of them are out on this property than are working and I guess I’ll have to get ugly and write a letter, since Chuck seems to think he has to wait for corporate to decide if we’re safe or not.
It’s the happy birthday of James and his brother James, also Kathleen, but she gets her Birthday Observed on February 28.
James are nagging to go to Walmart and pick out a cake.
Happy Birthday to James and his brother James and to Kathleen, the sister of them both! Yes, cake. I got the stuff to make the pineapple upside-down cake yesterday, so all I have to do is get up off my backside and make it.
I won’t be going to church. I decided I had better rest so the relapse, when it hits, won’t be too severe. Maybe it will just wave at me in passing. :o]
The sun is producing a red sky as it tries to come up over the bluff to the east. And I need to go take a pain pill...
I want to make some waffles and freeze them but I will have to find out the best way to do the freezing part. I plan on using my mother’s recipe which is egg-white fluffy and melt in your mouth good.
I took the James to Walmart. Vlad is going to make their cake, it appears.
I recommend putting the waffles in sealed bags before freezing. Some re-heating is also advised.
*kof-kof*
Yes, that sounds like a good idea. Thanks, Bob! I have to reheat them so the butter can melt into the little squares... ;o]
Good for Vlad! It’s so nice to have someone else pick up the slack when another person moves out...
Speaking of bakers, how is Tom adjusting to life with roomies who are not of his tribe?
I think Gonzo is suffering from separation anxiety. When he sees me put on my coat to go outside to do something he yells at me, quite loudly for a little guy. He’s back to eating, but this new development is not a good one. At least he’s in a cage so he can’t destroy anything... :o|
“Don’t make me come over there....”
Afternoon, y’all. Poor Gonzo.
Yep, poor Gonzo is right. He’s miserable without Beaker. I’d like to get another parakeet, but they’re probably $25 at Petco or PetSmart. And then I’d need a separate cage for a while. But it breaks my heart to see him mourn like this.
Anybody?
OKden...
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