The emergence of a new dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia

(Elsevier) Biological Psychiatry presents a special issue, 'The Dopamine Hypothesis of Schizophrenia,' dedicated to recent advances in understanding the role of dopamine signaling in schizophrenia. The issue, organized by Anissa Abi-Dargham, M.D., of Stony Brook University, New York, and a deputy editor of Biological Psychiatry, compiles seven reviews that summarize current knowledge and provide new insights.

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Why odds are against a large Zika outbreak in the US

(Entomological Society of America) Is the United States at risk for a large-scale outbreak of Zika or other mosquito-borne disease? While climate conditions in the US are increasingly favorable to mosquitos, socioeconomic factors such as access to clean water and air conditioning make large-scale outbreaks unlikely, according to new analysis of existing research -- but small-scale, localized outbreaks are an ongoing concern.

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Sex hormone-sensitive gene complex linked to premenstrual mood disorder

(NIH/National Institute of Mental Health) Researchers have discovered molecular mechanisms that may underlie a woman's susceptibility to disabling irritability, sadness, and anxiety in the days leading up to her menstrual period. In women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), they found dysregulated expression in a sex hormone-responsive gene complex which adds to evidence that PMDD is a disorder of cellular response to estrogen and progesterone.

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Detecting misinformation can improve memory later on

(Association for Psychological Science) Exposure to false information about an event usually makes it more difficult for people to recall the original details, but new research suggests that there may be times when misinformation actually boosts memory. Research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, shows that people who actually notice that the misinformation is inconsistent with the original event have better memory for the event compared with people who never saw the misinformation in the first place.

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Genes affecting our communication skills relate to genes for psychiatric disorder

(Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics) By screening thousands of individuals, an international team led by researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, the University of Bristol, the Broad Institute and the iPSYCH consortium has provided new insights into the relationship between genes that confer risk for autism or schizophrenia and genes that influence our ability to communicate during the course of development.

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New study finds evolution of brain and tooth size were not linked in humans

(George Washington University) A new study from the George Washington University's Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology found that whereas brain size evolved at different rates for different species, especially during the evolution of Homo, the genus that includes humans, chewing teeth tended to evolve at more similar rates. The finding suggests that our brains and teeth did not evolve in lock step and were likely influenced by different ecological and behavioral factors.

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Alcohol abuse increases risk of heart conditions as much as other risk factors

(American College of Cardiology) Alcohol abuse increases the risk of atrial fibrillation, heart attack and congestive heart failure as much as other well-established risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and obesity, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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