Behind closed eyes

... to the short, quick bursts that typify a response associated with a sensory percept. This difference appears to be the reason we don't experience hallucinations or hear voices that aren't there during rest. The resting oscillations appear to be strongest when we sense nothing at all during dream-free sleep. ...

Brain-nourishing molecule may predict schizophrenia relapse

... for their potential to enhance cognitive function. Schizophrenia affects about 1 percent of the population or some 2.4 million American adults. hallucinations are a disease hallmark; patients hear voices and can even see, touch and taste things that are not real. Patients, when they relapse, can become ...

American Chemical Society's Weekly PressPac -- Sept. 10, 2008

... C&EN Assistant Editor Carmen Drahl notes that existing medications for schizophrenia, so-called antipsychotics, help ease some symptoms, such as hallucinations and disorganized speech. However, they do not deal with all of the disease's symptoms, such as lack of motivation and impairments to decision-making. ...

Out-of-body experiences may be caused by arousal system disturbances in brain

... and sleep. Sleep paralysis is a common form of REM intrusion, which can cause a condition of temporary paralysis along with visual or auditory hallucinations immediately after waking up or before falling asleep due to an ill-timed disconnection between the brain and the body. Although it was once ...

Common gene version optimizes thinking -- but with a possible downside

... cortex. However, the same version was also more prevalent among people who developed schizophrenia, a severe mental illness marked by delusions, hallucinations and impaired emotion that affects one percent of the population. "We have found that DARPP-32 shapes and controls a circuit coursing between ...

Research links 'ecstasy' to survival of key movement-related cells in brain

... large amounts of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. This secretion can lead to prolonged periods of activity, hallucinations and euphoria. Before the United States banned it in 1985, MDMA was tested as a possible adjunct in psychotherapy. In 2001, the FDA agreed to allow ...

Engineered mouse mimics cognitive aspects of schizophrenia

... the prefrontal cortex that is involved in the cognitive deficits is much smaller in rodents than in primates. Some of the cognitive symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions are impossible to address. "However, rodent models have the advantage of allowing direct tests of cause-effect relationships for ...

Animal models show that anabolic steroids flip the adolescent brain's switch for aggression

... year. Not only do steroids set kids up for heavier use of steroids and other drugs later in life, but long-term users can suffer from mood swings, hallucinations and paranoia; liver damage; high blood pressure; as well as increased risk of heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer. Withdrawal often ...

Brain Scans Reveal How Gene May Boost Schizophrenia Risk

... production in the midbrain, which, in turn, is regulated by these two common gene variants. Schizophrenia, a severe mental illness marked by hallucinations and delusions, affects one percent of the population and is treated with antipsychotic drugs that block dopamine. The prefrontal cortex is critical ...