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 ...
Yes, thank you. I could see nothing when I first posted, so I didn’t comment on the enormously squeeful Floof or wish you a good morning. I was just grateful to be online and pulled up my post from yesterday, which was all I could see, at first.
So all of the above.
Which lizard is being moved? How many dragons do you have, now?
If that also meant that the World had no access to us, it could be an equitable arrangement.
Happy Friday Eve, everyone.
Kitteh, I know how you feel. I’m shocked when I get up in the morning facing what has to get done, too.
Kitteh has that pickle-mouth expression.
Happy Friday Eve to you, as well.
The finger I tried to sever almost four years ago is finally getting some feeling back in it. At times, it hurts, but even that feels good! :o]
I just noticed that! I know a few people like that....
I need to get some breakfast, I think. It’s getting light outside.
I think everyone knows some people like that.
Morning, Bob.
Either they all know the same person, or the world is in sadder shape than I thought!
I thought that was the norm. At least, it is for me. :o|
One dragon, one gecko. We’re moving the gecko back into the kitchen and rearranging the dragon room so we can have a treadmill.
Ah. If I moved a treadmill in, I would have to get rid of the bed and just sleep on the futon-sofa, which is really quite comfy!
I had an elliptical at one time, but then I moved and had no room for it so it stayed behind the door and I finally gave it away.
The living room rug has been vacuumed and the place looks almost like home. At least it looks as though I could have someone visit with being appalled at the place. ;o]
The treadmill won’t arrive until next week, but there’s a lot to clean up, mostly Kathleen’s toys. She’s really the only one who has toys now, apart from Lego.
Luminous kitteh....
Hey, y'all.
Mmph.
I appreciate your courtesy. It's good practice if nothing else.
These little subroutines help us get through life. Patrick has assimilated, “Can I make you a hot beverage?”
My typical response when someone says, “You know what I mean?”, is to say, “I hear what you’re saying.”
I wish you all a good morning.
Tea and crumpets are being served in the drawing room as we celebrate this momentous day .
...- ...- ...-
At 2300h this evening the continent will be cut off by fog.
Freedom Fog. The Fog of Liberty.
Blighty will once more be free to roam the seven seas.
They never did understand that Tea must be served with milk.
Right on, Moosie!!
Good morning! I think I need that cup of tea! With milk...
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