In 2011, a group of scientists “turned mice gay.” The only issue is, of course, they didn’t. Mounting behavior aside, sexual preference in mice is not about “turning mice gay.” It never has been.

The research comes from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute. Here the researchers looked at several factors: serotonin levels, brain circuitry, and behavior in mice. The mice were bred to have a genetic ...

Changing how the brain uses the chemical serotonin can cause unexpected, sporadic death—at least in mice, an Italian team reports in the July 3 Science. The research lends credence to the idea that ...

Courtship rituals within the animal kingdom can get rather elaborate. Even fruit flies use sex-specific pheromones and have a courtship maneuver that includes the male buzzing its wings alluringly.

Does 90% of serotonin come from the gut? Experts debunk the popular gut-brain myth and explain how diet, stress, and ...

A major paper debunking the “serotonin hypothesis” has a lot of people agitated. But leaving more room for nuance in our discussions about mental health is the right idea. Building a more complex, ...

When UVB rays from sunlight hit the skin, they spark the production of vitamin D₃, essential for strong bones, immune health, and brain function. But it doesn't stop there. Sunlight also triggers a ...

Adults consuming whole grain rye have lower plasma serotonin levels than people eating low-fiber wheat bread, according to a recent study. Adults consuming whole grain rye have lower plasma serotonin ...

Would you prefer to have sex with males or females? It’s such a simple question, but a loaded one. Biologically, we know very little about what goes on behind such sexual choices, in humans or other ...

Serotonin keeps mice hanging on if they are sure of getting rewards, but not sure when. Just a little longer. It's a common experience: hanging on in the hopes that our patience will pay off in the ...

After drinking mother’s milk spiked with the antidepressant Prozac for 19 days, infant mice bred to mimic the distinctive behaviors and brain abnormalities seen in autism experienced dramatic ...