A key brain circuit in the fight against cocaine use disorder
A new study published in Science Advances by Penn Nursing’s Heath Schmidt has identified a critical brain circuit that plays a pivotal role in regulating cocaine-seeking behavior.
A new study published in Science Advances, led by School of Nursing Professor Heath D. Schmidt, has identified a critical brain circuit that plays a pivotal role in regulating cocaine-seeking behavior.
At the heart of this discovery lies the role of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone known for its involvement in regulating food intake and blood sugar. The study revealed that chronic cocaine use is associated with reduced GLP-1 levels, effects that suggest that increasing central GLP-1 signaling could reduce cocaine-seeking behavior.
Further investigation pinpointed a key brain region involved in reward and motivation. By manipulating this neural circuit, researchers were able to significantly reduce cocaine-seeking behavior in animal models.
“This research provides exciting new insights into the brain mechanisms underlying cocaine seeking,” says Schmidt. “By understanding how GLP-1 signaling influences brain activity in this context, we can potentially develop new GLP-1-based treatments to treat cocaine use disorder.”
Novel plant-based approach to a better, cheaper GLP-1 delivery system
Research led by Penn Dental’s Henry Daniell investigates the use of a lettuce-based, plant-encapsulated delivery platform as a new oral delivery of two GLP-1 drugs previously approved by the FDA in injectable form.
No brain, no gain: Neuronal activity enhances benefits of exercise
Research led by Penn neuroscientist J. Nicholas Betley and collaborators finds that hypothalamic neurons are essential for translating physical exertion into endurance, potentially opening the door to exercise-mimicking therapies.
In honor of Valentine's Day, and as a way of fostering community in her Shakespeare in Love course, Becky Friedman took her students to the University Club for lunch one class period. They talked about the movie "Shakespeare in Love," as part of a broader conversation on how Shakespeare's works are adapted.
In Becky Friedman’s English course Shakespeare in Love, undergraduate students analyze language, genre, and adaptation in the Bard’s plays through the lens of love.
Beating the heat: Designing cooling for bodies in motion
Dorit Aviv, director of Weitzman’s Thermal Architecture Lab, studies how humans, technology, and design intersect, paving the way for the development of novel approaches to cooling people efficiently.
