Risky behaviors are pretty hard to predict, but the scientists claim thay've found the molecule that affects it.
The findings suggest that somatostatin fine-tunes circuits in the prefrontal cortex to promote specific behaviors, including risk-taking, exploration, and also decision-making.
Let's find out more about it!
A molecule that changes you
This study delves into the mechanism of somatostatin in the prefrontal cortex, a region crucial for functions like planning, memory, decision-making, and social behavior.
The findings offer insights into its role in neuropsychiatric disorders and potential therapeutic applications.
This research serves as an initial step in understanding somatostatin's role in the human brain and how its signaling may be implicated in various neuropsychiatric disorders.
Somatostatin is of particular interest as it has been associated with various mental conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, cognitive decline, alcohol use, and even fear learning.
Behavioral tests revealed that somatostatin-releasing neurons were most active when mice engaged in exploratory, risk-taking behaviors.
Manipulating somatostatin signaling influenced exploratory behavior in male mice, but not female mice.
Why it's important
This research offers insights into somatostatin's role in neuropsychiatric disorders and the potential for developing treatments targeting its expression.
