Posts by Arjane Kerkhoven

How bank voles take the future into account

Bank voles are often exposed to predator odor and alarm pheromones. This perceived predation risk may cause cross-generational behavior changes, which seem to be context-dependent on their in utero exposure.

Decreased learning abilities in diabetic rats: Silymarin to the rescue

Silymarin is a substance that works as an antioxidant, is anti-inflammatory and increases BDNF levels. After supplementing silymarin to diabetic rats, typical diabetes symptoms were greatly improved.

Depressed with a failing reward system: social stress disrupts brain waves

Chronic social stress has a huge impact on well-being. Gamma oscillations have been found to be an electrophysiological link between social stress and reward processing.

Is a unique calcium regulating mechanism a cause of Gulf War Illness?

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is potentially caused by organophosphate exposure. Through behavioral experiments, using a DFP rat model, researchers tested levetiracetam as a potential cure.

Gut microbes: both cause and cure of autism?

Gut microbes can increase or decrease typical autism spectrum disorder behavior (stereotypies, social behavior, locomotion, and communication) via metabolites and influencing alternative gene splicing.

About unexpected results: predator odor excites mice

The temperature of the tail and eyes of rodents is indicative of their emotional state. What would be the effect of a specific predator cue?

How mice regain their memory: Betaine against Alzheimer’s Disease

As a potential Alzheimer medicine, betaine was tested on an AD animal model in a novel object recognition test. Using video tracking, scientists studied the influence of betaine and betaine transporter on mouse memory.