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 ...
Are those the loopy potholders done on a frame? I love those things! I’ve thought of getting the starter kit and extra loops, but other things came first.
Yes, the very ones. Bill likes to use them as coasters, so I gave him a dozen when he moved out. However, I think Tom wants to use them as potholders!
Every time I look in the Herrschner’s catalog, I see the looms and loops on sale. Of course, now, they don’t have any, and I can’t afford the ones on eBay. So. No fun for me!
I don’t think they shake hands.
They probably don’t wash the ammo.
Hello. I think FR is going to match my F2F social intercourse today.
This is almost spooky.
We’re from the desert so rain is good.
I’m sorry about the adverse economic and personal consequences of this thing, but it’s rather peaceful and quiet....
Well, good. It’s gray and chilly here. Epic Fail will need to mow the Advanced Grass Substitute today, anyway, before it gets too deep.
I thought Epic Fail moved out. I must be confused.
Epic Fail Part Deux: James.
I'm surrounded by my family in this adversity.
I think that's making it worse.
Bob, I feel your pain.
I just went to the website for the science kit my friend in WW gave us. It has a whole Physical Geology course with instructional videos and experiments and everything. Super cool!
Without the helpful information available on the World Wide Web, I surely would despair.
We have plenty of books, but since the science kit didn’t come with instructions, just an “access code,” the website will be very helpful.
You have my deepest sympathy. ;o])
Oh, crikey! How lucky for you!! I’d be happy with a Lego set!
I can’t imagine being suddenly thrown into summer. Around here everyone has to put their kids into a day camp because nobody survives on one income.
These people are going to go stark, raving nuts.
Lots of folks out here do homeschooling, so “stark, raving nuts” is a constant. I think it has to be... Homeschoolers have my utmost admiration and respect.
“Family time” is much different when you’re not used to it.
Our challenge will be having DP home all the time. He gets antsy *very* quickly!
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.