Behavioural Brain Research最新文献

{"title":"Short- and long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonists decrease female sexual behaviors in experienced rodents","authors":"Olesya Shevchouk ,&nbsp;Christian E. Edvardsson ,&nbsp;Mia Ericson ,&nbsp;Sebastian Blid Sköldheden ,&nbsp;Qian Zhang ,&nbsp;Debora Dreher Nabinger ,&nbsp;Eelke MS Snoeren ,&nbsp;Lars Westberg ,&nbsp;Elisabet Jerlhag","doi":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116085","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116085","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Beyond the metabolic effects induced by long- and short-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists, they modulate reward-related behaviors by acting on brain regions including lateral septum (LS) and neural pathways involving the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). While the short-acting GLP-1R agonist exendin-4 (Ex-4) reduces sexual behaviors in sexually naïve male mice, the effects of long- versus short-acting GLP-1R agonists on natural rewards, such as sexual and social behaviors, in females remain unexplored. In the current study, we investigate the effects of both long-acting (dulaglutide, liraglutide) and short-acting (Ex-4) GLP-1R agonists on sexual and social behaviors in sexually experienced female rats and mice. While the GLP-1R agonists decreased sexual behaviors in females, they appear to be drug- and species-specific. In female rats, Ex-4 reduced the time with the males, the number of mounts, intromissions, ejaculations, darts and hops, as well as the lordosis intensity. Female mice treated with liraglutide and dulaglutide display a reduction in time with male stimulatory mouse, and as a possible consequence, a lowered mounting and intromission duration, potentially involving increased noradrenaline levels in the NTS and altered glutamate, glutamine, and taurine levels in the LS. In the three-chamber test, dulaglutide decreased the social novelty, another behavior associated with reward/motivation. Moreover, the long-acting GLP-1R agonists increased sociability and the time to seek a novel object. These results highlight species-dependent and agonist-specific effects of GLP-1R activation on sexual and social function in females and expands our understanding of the broader role of GLP-1.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8823,"journal":{"name":"Behavioural Brain Research","volume":"504 ","pages":"Article 116085"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146137182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Natural synergistic interventions for depression: Voluntary wheel running and flavonoids","authors":"DeXia Kong ,&nbsp;DongLing Li ,&nbsp;YunFei Duan ,&nbsp;Yi Chen ,&nbsp;Tao Li","doi":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116088","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116088","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The objective of this review is to systematically investigate the combined antidepressant effects of voluntary wheel running and flavonoid supplementation, with a focus on their application as a natural intervention strategy for depression. A comprehensive electronic search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, excluding physical materials, and was restricted to literature published in English. Through a multidimensional comparative analysis of forced exercise versus voluntary physical activity, synthetic drugs versus natural flavonoids, and single versus combined interventions, this review clarifies the unique advantages and antidepressant mechanisms of this combined strategy. We examine how these interventions, both independently and in combination, alleviate depressive-like behaviors and modulate associated neurochemical markers in animal models, and mitigate depressive symptoms in human participants. The findings demonstrate that both voluntary exercise and flavonoid intake independently alleviate depressive-like behaviors in animal models and depressive symptoms in human participants, with these effects mediated through mechanisms including neurotransmitter regulation, anti-inflammatory effects, and antioxidant pathways. Notably, the combined intervention shows a synergistic effect, providing more significant benefits for alleviating depressive-like symptoms in animals and reducing depressive symptoms in humans, preventing disease onset, and promoting overall mental well-being. These results suggest that integrating voluntary wheel running with flavonoid supplementation could represent a promising non-pharmacological approach to managing depression.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8823,"journal":{"name":"Behavioural Brain Research","volume":"504 ","pages":"Article 116088"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146148899","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Choline serves as the primary active compound of anti-aging tablets and targets PTGS2 to alleviate neuronal damage in Alzheimer’s disease by modulating ferroptosis and apoptosis in nerve cells","authors":"Xueping Zhang ,&nbsp;Wenwen Ding ,&nbsp;Chunxia Guo ,&nbsp;Xiuhong Chen ,&nbsp;Binhua Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116040","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116040","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive impairment, involves pathological mechanisms including β-amyloid protein deposition, hyperphosphorylation of Tau proteins, and neuronal damage mediated by ferroptosis. As a traditional Chinese medicine, anti-aging tablets have potential neuroprotective effects, but their active ingredients and mechanisms have not been fully elucidated.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We screened active ingredients and AD-related targets in anti-aging tablets using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry combined with network pharmacology analysis. A protein-protein interaction network was established, and GO/KEGG enrichment analyses were performed. The binding of choline to PTGS2 was verified through molecular thermal shift assay. qPCR was utilized to detect PTGS2 expression. An AD model was constructed, with cellular injury levels evaluated through CCK-8, LDH assays, and WB detection by examining the expression of apoptosis-related biomarkers. The expression of ferroptosis-related proteins (FSP1, SLC7A11, GPX4) was examined through Western blot analysis. MDA and GSH/GSSG analyses determined lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity. DCFH-DA detected ROS levels.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The combined use of UPLC-MS/MS with network pharmacology led to the identification and characterization of choline as the key active ingredient in anti-aging tablets. PTGS2 was determined as its primary target. The direct binding of choline to PTGS2 was verified through molecular thermal shift assay. <em>In vitro</em> experiments revealed that choline significantly repressed cell damage in the AD model, as indicated by enhanced cell viability, reduced release of LDH, lowered levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and downregulated expression of caspase-3 and Bax. Additional studies uncovered that overexpression of PTGS2 exacerbated ferroptosis-related parameters (upregulation of MDA, decrease in GSH/GSSG ratio, downregulation of FSP1, SLC7A11, and GPX4 expression), whereas Fer-1 treatment reversed these changes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study revealed that choline targets PTGS2 to depress ferroptosis, thus alleviating AD-related neuronal injury. This study provides a theoretical basis for the pharmacodynamic effects of anti-aging tablets as well as new therapeutic strategies for AD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8823,"journal":{"name":"Behavioural Brain Research","volume":"503 ","pages":"Article 116040"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146017213","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of nucleus accumbens Fos expression in sex-dependent cocaine-induced locomotion, cocaine self-administration, and primed cocaine seeking in rats","authors":"Alixandria T. Mascarin ,&nbsp;Srinivasu Kallakuri ,&nbsp;Justin L. Carthage ,&nbsp;Ali Gheidi ,&nbsp;Alana C. Conti ,&nbsp;Shane A. Perrine","doi":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116055","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116055","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Individuals using cocaine, particularly those with Cocaine Use Disorder, experience long-lasting neurobiological alterations that contribute to high rates of relapse and increased morbidity and mortality. Rodent models suggest that neuronal activation, as represented by Fos expression, in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is crucial for cocaine-related behaviors. However, the role of biological sex in NAc activation in these behaviors remains unclear. Therefore, the present study examined the impact of sex on cocaine-induced locomotor activity (LMA), cocaine self-administration, cocaine seeking, and associated NAc Fos expression. We hypothesized that, relative to males, female rats would display heightened behavioral responses in the tested models and greater numbers of Fos+ cells in the NAc, and that Fos expression would correlate with the outcome measures of the assessed behaviors (i.e., locomotor activity and cocaine seeking). In this study, females displayed greater cocaine-induced locomotor activity, cocaine self-administration, and cocaine seeking than males. However, neither sex nor cocaine treatment impacted NAc Fos expression in the LMA study, and NAc Fos levels did not correlate with LMA in either sex. Following cocaine seeking, NAc Fos expression was not sex-dependent, though it correlated with cocaine seeking in males, but not in females. Taken together, these results suggest that the number of Fos+ cells in the NAc do not underlie sex differences in cocaine use or relapse-like behaviors. Future work should characterize the proteomic or electrophysiologic profiles in specific cell types of Fos+ cells in the NAc following cocaine use to determine how these behaviors differ by sex.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8823,"journal":{"name":"Behavioural Brain Research","volume":"503 ","pages":"Article 116055"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146040209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"White matter abnormalities in metabolic syndrome patients with and without mild cognitive impairment: A diffusion tensor imaging study","authors":"Wen Shao ,&nbsp;TianTian Zhu ,&nbsp;Xiaoxiao Xiong ,&nbsp;Ying Xiong ,&nbsp;Qiang Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116057","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116057","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) constitutes a significant risk factor for the development of cognitive dysfunction and dementia. MetS can result in damage to the integrity and microstructure of white matter (WM). There may exist certain distinctions in WM between MetS patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and MetS patients with preserved cognitive function. Using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), we aim to investigate the alterations of the WM in MetS patients with and without MCI.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>36 MetS patients with MCI (MetS-MCI group), 30 age-, gender-, and education-matched MetS patients with normal cognition (MetS-NC group), and 36 healthy controls (HC) were included in the study. Diffusion data was analyzed using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) analysis and Region of Interest (ROI) quantitative analysis to investigate the differences in fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (λ₁), and radial diffusivity (λ₂₃) among these groups. Analyses on WM fiber tracts showed FA reduction or MD elevation in regions related to cognitive functions. Relationship between DTI metrics in these regions and neuropsychological assessments was characterized.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In the whole-brain TBSS analysis, compared to HC group, MetS-MCI group primarily exhibited an increase in MD, λ₁ and λ_23. MetS-NC group primarily exhibited an increase in MD and λ₁ compared to HC group. Furthermore, compared to MetS-NC group, MetS-MCI group demonstrated significantly elevated MD and λ₂₃. In the ROI quantitative analysis, increased MD values in right posterior thalamic radiation (PTR.R), left external capsule (EC.L), right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFO.R), left inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFO.L), and right uncinate fasciculus (UF.R), along with decreased FA values in EC.L, right external capsule (EC.R) and left superior corona radiata (SCR.L), were associated with overall cognitive decline. Elevated MD values in EC.L and IFO.L, as well as reduced FA values in EC.L, were linked to poorer executive function. Similarly, higher MD values in EC.L, IFO.L, and UF.R, combined with lower FA values in EC.L, were associated with worse memory performance.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our study showed that MetS patients with MCI exhibited more severe WM damage compared to MetS patients without cognitive impairment, and loss of myelin sheath integrity may contribute to the cognitive decline in patients with MetS. Furthermore, our study clarified the association between different cognitive functions and specific WM fiber bundles in MetS patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8823,"journal":{"name":"Behavioural Brain Research","volume":"503 ","pages":"Article 116057"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146043590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical study on metabolic differences in the limbic system between non-demented Parkinson's disease patients and Parkinson's disease dementia patients","authors":"Yukai Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaohua Shi ,&nbsp;Lingchao Li ,&nbsp;Bin Chen ,&nbsp;Lei Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116045","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116045","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Background&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. PD is widely known for its motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms. The long-term clinical course of PD is complicated by the onset of dementia in 80 % of patients. The diagnosis of PD is based on the patient's medical history and clinical examination, but molecular imaging can play an important role in the study of disease progression and mechanisms. [&lt;sup&gt;18&lt;/sup&gt;F] -fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) -PET, as one of the important molecular imaging methods, was adopted by our research to compare the differences in brain metabolism between PD patients with normal cognition (PD-NC) and PD with dementia (PDD), as well as healthy control (HC).Thereby, utilizing FDG-PET imaging technology to detect Parkinson's disease dementia at an early stage, enabling early prevention of cognitive impairment, slowing disease progression, and enhancing patient quality of life.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Method&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Thirty-seven PD patients and 15 healthy controls (HCs) who visited the Department of Neurology of China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University were included in this study. According to the diagnostic criteria for cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson's disease, PD patients were divided into the normal cognition group (PD-NC) and the dementia group (PDD). Each subject underwent &lt;sup&gt;18&lt;/sup&gt;F-FDG PET examination. The glucose metabolism of brain regions in the three groups was compared. Further, taking the limbic system as the region of interest (ROI), the glucose metabolism of ROIs in the three groups of subjects was further compared.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;After normalizing whole-brain metabolism, PD-NC patients showed reduced metabolism in the limbic system (hippocampus, caudate gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus, insular lobe), fusiform gyrus, parietal lobe (precuneus, angular, supramarginal gyrus), frontal lobe (rectus gyrus) compared to HC. PDD patients showed significantly reduced metabolism in the frontal lobe (middle frontal gyrus, rectus gyrus) and temporal lobe (middle temporal gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus) compared to HC, and also showed reduced metabolism in the precuneus and angular gyrus compared to PD-NC patients. However, PDD patients showed increased metabolism in the cerebellum, amygdala and putamen compared to HC, and showed increased metabolism in cerebellum and amygdala compared to PD-NC patients.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;After normalizing metabolism of ROIs, PDD patients showed increased metabolism in the bilateral amygdala (max voxel cluster, peak T-value) compared to both PD-NC patients and HC, while showed significant reduced metabolism in the right rectus gyrus and the middle of the right cingulate gyrus compared to HC. And PD-NC patients showed significant reduced metabolism in the right rectus gyrus and right insular lobe compared to HC.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The hypometabolism distribute for PD-NC ma","PeriodicalId":8823,"journal":{"name":"Behavioural Brain Research","volume":"503 ","pages":"Article 116045"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145987880","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Targeting neuroinflammation in ischemic stroke: The promise of phytoconstituents","authors":"Wasim Akhtar ,&nbsp;Mohd Muazzam Khan ,&nbsp;Mohd Khalid Raza ,&nbsp;Sarita Maurya ,&nbsp;Sanjay Kumar ,&nbsp;Usama Ahmad","doi":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116051","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116051","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ischemic stroke (IS) stands as a major global health burden, often resulting in death or lasting disability. Beyond the initial deprivation of blood flow, the subsequent cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury significantly amplifies neural damage through complex inflammatory mechanisms. When blood supply is restored after vascular blockage, the sudden influx of oxygen and immune cells intensifies oxidative stress and triggers a cascade involving glial cell activation, blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption, and infiltration of peripheral leukocytes. Although this immune response begins as a protective effort, it frequently becomes dysregulated, leading to neuronal degeneration, cerebral edema, and worsened clinical outcomes. In light of this, recent studies have turned toward modulating neuroinflammation as a therapeutic avenue, with plant-derived compounds gaining traction due to their broad-spectrum activity and favourable safety profiles. Bioactive phytochemicals such as flavonoids, polyphenols, and terpenoids have shown potential in preclinical models by attenuating pro-inflammatory cytokine production, inhibiting NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling, promoting microglial transition to neuroprotective phenotypes, and reinforcing BBB stability. Enhancing stroke therapy choices requires the creation of natural medications that are highly effective, low in toxicity, and reasonably priced. This review covers 40 phytoconstituents studied between 1996 and 2024, along with their experimental models, tested doses, and observed outcomes. These natural compounds show promise in reducing injury after ischemic stroke. However, their clinical use still requires more research, including detailed pharmacokinetic studies, improved delivery methods, and well-designed human trials to confirm their effectiveness and safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8823,"journal":{"name":"Behavioural Brain Research","volume":"503 ","pages":"Article 116051"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146017206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Combined administration of intracerebroventricular CB1 agonist ACEA and systemic TRPV1 agonist capsaicin induces synergistic antidepressant-like effects in rats","authors":"Daniela A. Avalos-Moreno ,&nbsp;Sergio G. Cuevas-Carbonell ,&nbsp;Metzli E. Ramírez-Vargas ,&nbsp;Luis Castro-Sánchez ,&nbsp;Adolfo Virgen-Ortiz ,&nbsp;Enrique Sánchez-Pastor ,&nbsp;José L. Góngora-Alfaro ,&nbsp;Ricardo A. Navarro-Polanco ,&nbsp;Eloy G. Moreno-Galindo ,&nbsp;Javier Alamilla","doi":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116050","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116050","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Depression is a distressing mental disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Current treatments include both psychological and pharmacological approaches. However, delays in clinical improvement and high percentage of patients unresponsive to conventional antidepressants highlight the need to identify novel compounds or strategies with optimal antidepressant actions. We have previously shown the antidepressant-like effects of the intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of the TRPV1 agonist capsaicin (Cap). Moreover, accumulating evidence indicates that the endocannabinoid system plays a key role in the regulation of mood. To explore the role of cerebral cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) in the antidepressant-like effects of Cap, we assessed the impact of separated and combined administration of Cap (i.p.) and the CB1 agonist ACEA (intracerebroventricularly) on rat’s immobility time in the forced swim test. Alike to Cap, we found that ACEA significantly reduced this parameter. Importantly, when combining these compounds, synergistic effects were observed. Contrarily, no impact on the general locomotor activity was detected in the open field test, and no changes in anxiety-related behaviors were noted in the elevated plus maze, for either ACEA alone or its combination with Cap. The present findings suggest that Cap acts through activation of gastrointestinal TRPV1 vagal fibers, while ACEA acts by stimulation of cerebral CB1 receptors. However, more studies are required to elucidate the implied mechanisms of action.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8823,"journal":{"name":"Behavioural Brain Research","volume":"503 ","pages":"Article 116050"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146036842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Amygdala-centered mechanisms of pain amplification and chronification in fibromyalgia and migraine: Narrative review","authors":"Nataliya Zharova ,&nbsp;Yury Zharikov ,&nbsp;Yane Pelicer-Marques ,&nbsp;Vladimir Nikolenko ,&nbsp;Vladislav Tarasenko ,&nbsp;Elena Mikliaeva ,&nbsp;Anastasia Mchenskaya ,&nbsp;Sergey Ryagin ,&nbsp;Sevak Antonyan ,&nbsp;Denis Aniskin ,&nbsp;André Pontes-Silva ,&nbsp;Tatiana Zharikova","doi":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116071","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116071","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This review aimed to examine the role of the amygdala as a central hub in the pathophysiology of chronic pain, with a specific focus on fibromyalgia and migraine. We synthesize evidence on how structural, functional, and neurochemical alterations within amygdala-centered circuits contribute to pain amplification, emotional dysregulation, and central sensitization, and discuss their implications for circuit-based therapeutic strategies.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A comprehensive, theory-driven literature synthesis was conducted, integrating findings from neuroimaging, neuromodulation, molecular neuroscience, and clinical studies. We examined alterations in amygdala structure, function, and connectivity with cortical and brainstem regions involved in nociceptive processing, emotional regulation, and descending pain modulation. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions targeting limbic–brainstem circuits were also analyzed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Converging evidence indicates that both fibromyalgia and migraine are associated with significant volumetric, functional, and connectivity-related alterations of the amygdala. These changes are characterized by limbic hyperexcitability and aberrant coupling with the prefrontal cortex, hypothalamus, periaqueductal gray (PAG), and rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM), biasing descending pain control toward facilitation rather than inhibition. This network reorganization amplifies both the sensory and affective dimensions of pain and promotes symptom persistence. Neurochemical dysregulation—encompassing glutamatergic, monoaminergic, GABAergic, and peptidergic systems—further sustains maladaptive plasticity within amygdala-centered circuits. Emerging therapeutic approaches, including cognitive-behavioral interventions, neuromodulation, pharmacological modulation, and immersive technologies, show potential to reshape dysfunctional limbic–cortical networks and attenuate pain amplification.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The amygdala emerges as a key integrative node linking nociceptive, emotional, and autonomic processes in fibromyalgia and migraine. Through its influence on descending pain modulatory systems, amygdala-centered circuits play a critical role in pain chronification and affective sensitization. These findings support a circuit-based framework for chronic pain, highlighting the amygdala as a promising target for individualized, multimodal therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring adaptive emotional–nociceptive integration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8823,"journal":{"name":"Behavioural Brain Research","volume":"503 ","pages":"Article 116071"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146075552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Postural and cardiorespiratory responses to emotionally-laden whole-body expressions","authors":"Mariana Rodrigues Alves ,&nbsp;Anaelli Aparecida Nogueira-Campos ,&nbsp;Adriana Ribeiro de Macedo ,&nbsp;Angela Nogueira Neves ,&nbsp;Talita P. Pinto ,&nbsp;Fabio Vieira dos Anjos ,&nbsp;Claudia Domingues Vargas ,&nbsp;Luis Aureliano Imbiriba","doi":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116049","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116049","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Postural and autonomic adjustments are commonly described during the observation of emotional stimuli. Thus, this study investigated the physiological impact of emotional images viewing revealed by whole-body expressions. Body sway and cardiorespiratory signals were recorded in thirty-nine healthy young people who maintained an upright stance while observing 20 neutral, 20 happiness (positive) or 20 anger (negative) images from the Bodily Expressive Action Stimulus Test (BEAST) database. Participants rated each image considering their valence and arousal dimensions with the Self-Assessment Manikin. Additionally, emotional recognition level was rated using a three alternative-forced-choice task (happiness, anger, and neutral). A repeated-measures one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the main physiological variables among emotionally-laden blocks. Valence statistically differed among blocks. The emotional recognition rate was above 70 % for all blocks. There was a significant decrease in body sway area during the observation of anger whole-body expressions compared to the neutral and happiness ones. The mean power frequency in the medial-lateral axis showed a significant increase during viewing anger images compared to the neutral one. Further, there was a significant increase in the heart rate variability during observation of anger whole-body expressions compared to the happiness one. These findings revealed physiological adjustments in the observer while viewing whole-body expressions consistent with the emotional processing experience. Therefore, the observation of images depicting anger whole-body expressions led to postural and autonomic changes in agreement with defensive responses (”postural immobility”).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8823,"journal":{"name":"Behavioural Brain Research","volume":"503 ","pages":"Article 116049"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145997090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}