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 ...
For now, sunshine is once again coming in my living room window!!
Oh, blargh. Delay, delay, delay.
On a brighter note, I enjoy watching Murdoch, in addition to the white teeth and brown eyes to fall into of Detective Murdoch, but also because of the old houses and the period furniture, not to mention the meticulous detail paid to period costumes. All in all, it’s a fun show to watch!
Good afternoon, Moosie! Or is it evening...? It was a lot easier to keep track of when I was on THAT side of the Atlantic than this one!
We have birds and blossoms in abundance, not quite like the blooms your mother posts, but still. However, Zion National Park has closed because so many people went there over the weekend, they could ensure their safety — hanging onto the safety chains on the trails, and such.
I’m making some vegetable soup for lunch: onion, garlic, carrot, and butternut squash. The squash had been sitting on the counter a long time, but was still in good shape.
I got an email from the hair salon saying that, as of Wednesday night, they will be closing for 30 days. I made an appointment with a random stylist for 2:30 this afternoon.
That's very suspicious.
Definitely. Probably about to pounce on a human or another cat.
Oh crikey. And blargh. But good ON ya!!
I agree. They did an excellent job with the look.
I’ve been looking very Albert Einstein-y in the last couple of weeks.
The Brits are good at period costumes as well. The series “Endeavor” is set in the early 50s and into the 60s, and the detail of dress and props is amazing. One could almost believe it was filmed during those times.
I saw Roger Allam in a “Waking the Dead” series, and he was absolutely believably THAT character! I can see why he was chosen for “Endeavor.”
And I have the list of the best BBC murder/suspense programs to thank! I think I’m on the last of the Endeavor and DCI Banks sets, though, and when I get them at the library, I’ll check when I get back and put in next week’s request.
https://www.ranker.com/list/best-british-detective-series/ranker-tv
I wish my hair had enough body to be Albert Einstein-y. At least it’s growing back and I don’t see quite so much of my scalp as I did when I first moved.
I’ll just let it grow until January next year and then have it cut short again. I should have a full head of hair by then, and that will be awesome! :o])
It happens sometimes.
Maybe there is a delivery of TP at Te$C0$ .
Perhaps the lack of human activity has spooked them?
Maybe it’s the weather.
Thank you.
Y’all, please excuse my inconsistency. Up to my earballs in gators since September. Godspeed.
No probs, Girl. You come and go when you can and we’ll always be glad to see you!
What a beauty!
I've probably seen that one. Philip Glass music, wasn't it?
It rained all day yesterday-although for a short time in the morning it snowed.
It’s glooming up again. *sigh*
If it would shrink me, I might like it, but... :o|
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