Dopamine is the brain’s motivational spark, driving us to chase what feels good and steer clear of what doesn’t. But scientists haven’t fully understood how dopamine helps us learn to avoid bad ...

The first time a person rides a rollercoaster, they may find it exhilarating, but when they get back on to ride again, they may find that they can’t replicate that initial feeling of excitement.

Dopamine is one of the most extensively studied chemical messengers in the human brain, and yet scientists are still figuring out how it works to accomplish so much. For years, the classic view has ...

For almost a century, psychology and neuroscience researchers have been trying to understand the processes via which humans and other animals acquire new skills or learn to deal with specific ...

Starting a regular program at the gym is a common New Year's resolution, but it's one that most people are unable to stick with for very long. Now a study done in mice is providing clues about one of ...

Dopamine signaling in the brain is a complex process, with many mechanisms in place to accelerate or slow down dopamine's effects. When dopamine is released from nerve cells, its efficient removal to ...

Dangers come but dangers also go and when they do, the brain has an “all-clear” signal that teaches it to extinguish its fear. A new study in mice by MIT neuroscientists shows that the signal is the ...

When we learn a new motor skill-whether mastering a piano passage or refining balance while walking-the brain must reorganize the circuits that ...

Surprise rewards may boost movement speed, hinting that dopamine signals in the brain help control motivation and physical vigor.

When considering the drugs most likely to cause former addicts to repeatedly relapse, opioids, cocaine, and methamphetamine ...