Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/qXe_aKmPdoY   We’ve known for years that unique and surprising stimuli foster better learning.  A Belgian study, just published in the journal Neuron now tells us how this happens.   Using a mouse model, the neuroscientists demonstrated that novel fragrances versus familiar ones trigger the brain cells that produce and release dopamine, a learning catalyst.  When they blocked dopamine production, the animals’ learning suffered.   To turbocharge knowledge gain, get out of your ruts by seeking new adventures.  Take new routes and friends to work, talk to strangers, and try something new each week.  Pump up your dopamine reserves.  Eat foods like almonds, bananas, avocados, beans, eggs, and fish.  Exercise more, sleep bettter, and enjoy music.  Joachim Morrens, Çağatay Aydin, Aliza Janse van Rensburg, José Esquivelzeta Rabell, Sebastian Haesler. Cue-Evoked Dopamine Promotes Conditioned Responding during Learning. Neuron, 2020; DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.01.012   #novelty #dopamine #l