Serotonin: Waiting but Not Rewarding

Serotonin: Waiting but Not Rewarding

A new study in mice demonstrates that stimulating dorsal raphe serotonin boosts patient waiting but stimulation itself is not rewarding. Dorsal raphe serotonin's unique contribution provides a neural locus for impulsivity and related failures of patience.

Neuroscience: Waiting for Serotonin

Serotonin dysfunction is implicated in many neuropsychiatric disorders yet the precise behavioral functions of this neuromodulator are not well understood. A new study employs optogenetic methods to activate serotonin neurons during an effort-demanding waiting behavior and demonstrates that serotonin release increases patience, the capacity for self-control.

not intervention but participation

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Mentoring--hard and underappreciated but rewarding.

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin transporter genotype modulate performance monitoring functions but not their electrophysiological correlates.

Serotonin (5-HT) has been hypothesized to be implicated in performance monitoring by promoting behavioral inhibition in the face of aversive events. However, it is unclear whether this is restricted to external (punishment) or includes internal (response errors) events. The aim of the current study was to test whether higher 5-HT levels instigate inhibition specifically in the face of errors, m...