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 ...
It’s pouring rain again. I think this is a sign that we should have lunch and then go to bed with a cat or the best available substitute, like a stuffed rabbit.
Yes, and we have that awful wind, often up in the 60+ mph ranges.
I keep looking at four-legged critters online. I need to stop that and find a large enough critter that would be nice to snuggle with. I’ve seen several at Walmart that I thought would be nice, but groceries and other needs vetoed the idea.
The Little Brown Bat is a nice friend, but not a good size for snuggling.
Thank you.
Reminds me of mom’s kitty Rags.
Raggies was mottled like that.
No, besides, Batilda’s duties are on the desk at the moment, overseeing the work. Literally. She’s perched on the top shelf, now! ;o]
You’re welcome. It’s raining further additionally again here.
It’s an unusual pattern.
It is, Rags was a good kitty.
She had a game where she’d be in the computer chair and ask to be picked up.
Upon making the attempt she would grab onto the chair with her claws and hold on.
Loudly purring the entire time.
Was a hoot.
Look! Jake’s brother!
Good morning.
Today, because I feel so much better than I have in the last few days, I will actually take the truck down to The Tracker Guy. I’d walk back if it wasn’t all uphill!
Do Danskos ever wear out?
*tagline*
No, I don’t think they do. I’ve had mine for 8 years.
I’m glad you’re feeling better today. Best wishes with the Tracker!
Good morning. Happy Wednesday. Yes, I am still here. I just had two busy days.
This morning I’m in early because I’ll be driving back home this evening. Tomorrow I’ll pick up the truck and Friday we’ll drive our new belongings to our new temporary digs.
It sounds like you have some long days ahead. Best wishes!
Thank you.
When I heard yesterday was Super Tuesday I kept looking up in the sky for a blue and crimson bolt so I could ask for a little help.
I never saw one.
I have no idea what made it Super.
Mike Bloomberg won the Democratic primary in American Samoa.
Maybe you’ll get the bolt on Thorsday.
The Danskos never seem to wear, anywhere on the shoe. And they are so comfortable!! Good idea, Danskos!
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