Okinawa Institute study links disappointment to breaking bad habits

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology disappointment acetylcholine habit change mouse study

Neuroscientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) observed that the feeling of disappointment triggers a release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in mice, facilitating the abandonment of previously learned behaviors. The experiments, reported in Nature Communications, used a spherical treadmill and a virtual maze to train mice to seek a reward. When the expected reward was omitted, the mice experienced disappointment, leading to a measurable increase in acetylcholine in specific brain regions, as captured by two‑photon microscopy. This neurochemical shift prompted many mice to alter their choices, suggesting a mechanism by which disappointment can promote behavioral flexibility. Lead author Gideon Sarpong and senior researcher Jeffery Wickens explained that the findings could help explain why some people find it easier to break bad habits after a setback.

Entities

Cell Press · Gideon Sarpong · Jeffery Wickens · London · Nature Communications · Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) · Sophie Scott · Trends in Neurosciences · University College London · acetylcholine

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[● 3 SOURCES] Spontaneous laughter activates brain regions for emotion, reward, and movement. www.hna.de
[● 3 SOURCES] The findings were published in the Cell Press journal Trends in Neurosciences. www.hna.de
[● 3 SOURCES] Sophie Scott of University College London is an author of the research. www.hna.de
[● 3 SOURCES] Researchers identified two separate neural networks for laughter. www.hna.de
[● 3 SOURCES] Controlled (social) laughter activates brain regions for language and facial/mouth movement. www.hna.de
[● 3 SOURCES] The study used reports from epilepsy patients undergoing brain surgery with electrical stimulation. www.hna.de