Category Archives: Brain

Synephrine and Raspberry Ketone: Why No Central Effects?

Posted on September 12, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Synephrine and raspberry ketone are structurally similar compounds found in Citrus Aurantium peel and Rubus Idaeus, respectively. Both compounds have a pharmacological profile that suggests that they cause lipolysis through activation of β3 adrenergic receptors. There is also likely some … Continue reading →

Posted in Brain, Raspberry Ketone, Synephrine | Comments Off on Synephrine and Raspberry Ketone: Why No Central Effects?

Bergamot and Earl Grey Tea

Posted on September 4, 2024 by Robert Barrington

The bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia) is a citrus fruit that is used in aromatherapy as an anxiolytic and calmative agent. The rind of the orange is used to produce bergamot tea, which is black tea with added bergamot. Bergamot has … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Bergamot, Brain, Tea | Comments Off on Bergamot and Earl Grey Tea

L-Theanine for Attention deficit hyperactivity Disorder 

Posted on August 26, 2024 by Robert Barrington

L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea. Evidence suggests that it can partially activate the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor in humans and animals and that this causes a reduction in excitation in the brain along with a concomitant increase … Continue reading →

Posted in Brain, L-theanine, Tea | Comments Off on L-Theanine for Attention deficit hyperactivity Disorder 

Sudden Alcohol Withdrawal

Posted on August 7, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Addiction to alcohol can be a serious debilitating condition that leads to a slow deterioration in physical and mental health. Because of the damage that alcohol does to both the user and the people around them, individuals who abuse alcohol … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcohol, Brain | Comments Off on Sudden Alcohol Withdrawal

Brain Regions Involved in Anxiety

Posted on August 6, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Anxiety has been hypothesised to be a survival mechanism by which threats are assessed and a more tentative and careful approach, following intense reflection, may confer advantages in dealing with situations. However, chronic anxiety, as can develop in humans and … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Brain | Comments Off on Brain Regions Involved in Anxiety

Alcohol Addiction and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor

Posted on August 5, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a peptide hormone under the regulation of the cyclic AMP response element binding (CREB) protein. Evidence suggests that BDNF is required for neuronal health, synaptic plasticity, and may play a role in memory and … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcohol, Brain, Cortisol, Stress | Comments Off on Alcohol Addiction and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor

The Acute Effect of Alcohol on Cognition

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Ingestion of alcohol is well evidenced to alter behaviour and change aspects of psychology. For example, impairment of cognition required for divided attention tasks occurs at relatively low intake of alcohol. This may be the reason that alcohol is particularly … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcohol, Brain | Comments Off on The Acute Effect of Alcohol on Cognition

L-Theanine and the Brain

Posted on March 21, 2024 by Robert Barrington

L-theanine (N-ethyl-L-glutamine) is a non-proteinaceous amino acid that is found in high amounts almost exclusively in tea (Camellia sinensis). In fact, L-theanine accounts for around 50 % of the amino acids in tea leaves. L-theanine is structurally similar to glutamic … Continue reading →

Posted in Brain, L-theanine, Tea | Comments Off on L-Theanine and the Brain

Glycine

Posted on March 20, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Glycine is the simplest and smallest amino acid and is the only amino acid in human nutrition that does not show chirality. Glycine plays a number of important roles in human metabolism, including as a substrate for the cellular antioxidant … Continue reading →

Posted in Brain, L-glycine | Comments Off on Glycine

The Best Antioxidant for Your Brain?

Posted on March 11, 2024 by Robert Barrington

The human brain is composed of a high concentration of lipids, many of which are phospholipids and their derivatives. Diets rich in essential fatty acids improve brain function and efficiency. However, the essential fatty acids are polyunsaturated, and this increases … Continue reading →

Posted in Brain, Essential Fatty Acids, Tocopherols, Tocotrienols, Vitamin E | Comments Off on The Best Antioxidant for Your Brain?