Elements of
Digital Nutrition

Acetylcholine

Learning, Focus, and Attention

Picciotto, M. R., Higley, M. J., & Mineur, Y. S. (2012). Acetylcholine as a neuromodulator: cholinergic signaling shapes nervous system function and behavior. Neuron, 76(1), 116–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2012.08.036

Hasselmo, M. E. (2006, December). The role of acetylcholine in learning and memory. Current Opinion in Neurobiology. NIH Public Access. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2006.09.002

Atri, A., Norman, K. A., Nicolas, M. M., Cramer, S. C., Hasselmo, M. E., Sherman, S., … Stern, C. E. (2004). Blockade of Central Cholinergic Receptors Impairs New Learning and Increases Proactive Interference in a Word Paired-Associate Memory Task. Behavioral Neuroscience, 118(1), 223–236. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7044.118.1.223

Elvander, E & Schött, PA & Sandin, Johan & Bjelke, Börje & Kehr, Jan & Yoshitake, T & Ogren, Sven. (2004). Intraseptal muscarinic ligands and galanin: Influence on hippocampal acetylcholine and cognition. Neuroscience. 126. 541-57. 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2004.03.058.

Dopamine

Pleasure and Reward

Berridge, K. C., & Kringelbach, M. L. (2015). Pleasure Systems in the Brain. Neuron, 86(3), 646–664. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2015.02.018

Berridge, K. C., & Kringelbach, M. L. (2013, June). Neuroscience of affect: Brain mechanisms of pleasure and displeasure. Current Opinion in Neurobiology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2013.01.017

Berridge, K. C., & Robinson, T. E. (1998). What is the role of dopamine in reward: hedonic impact, reward learning, or incentive salience? Brain Research. Brain Research Reviews, 28(3), 309–69. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9858756

Arias-Carrián, O., Stamelou, M., Murillo-Rodríguez, E., Menéndez-Gonzlez, M., & Pöppel, E. (2010). Dopaminergic reward system: A short integrative review. International Archives of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1755-7682-3-24

Music

Chanda, M. L., & Levitin, D. J. (2013, April 1). The neurochemistry of music. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2013.02.007

Ferreri, L., Mas-Herrero, E., Zatorre, R. J., Ripollés, P., Gomez-Andres, A., Alicart, H., … Rodriguez-Fornells, A. (2019). Dopamine modulates the reward experiences elicited by music. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 201811878. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1811878116

Stark, E. A., Vuust, P., & Kringelbach, M. L. (2018). Music, dance, and other art forms: New insights into the links between hedonia (pleasure) and eudaimonia (well-being). Progress in brain research (Vol. 237, pp. 129–152). https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.03.019

Zatorre, R. J. (2015). Musical pleasure and reward: Mechanisms and dysfunction. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1337(1), 202–211. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.12677

Zatorre, R. J., & Salimpoor, V. N. (2013). From perception to pleasure: Music and its neural substrates. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(Supplement_2), 10430–10437. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1301228110

Salimpoor, V. N., Benovoy, M., Larcher, K., Dagher, A., & Zatorre, R. J. (2011). Anatomically distinct dopamine release during anticipation and experience of peak emotion to music. Nature Neuroscience (Vol. 14, pp. 257–264). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2726

Blood, A. J., & Zatorre, R. J. (2001). Intensely pleasurable responses to music correlate with activity in brain regions implicated in reward and emotion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 98(20), 11818–11823. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.191355898

Aalbers, S., Fusar-Poli, L., Freeman, R. E., Spreen, M., Ket, J. C., Vink, A. C., … Gold, C. (2017, November 16). Music therapy for depression. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004517.pub3

Harrison, L., & Loui, P. (2014). Thrills, chills, frissons, and skin orgasms: toward an integrative model of transcendent psychophysiological experiences in music. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 790. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00790

Humor

Mobbs, D., Greicius, M. D., Abdel-Azim, E., Menon, V., & Reiss, A. L. (2003). Humor Modulates the Mesolimbic Reward Centers. Neuron, 40(5), 1041–1048. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0896-6273(03)00751-7

Franklin, R. G., & Adams, R. B. (2011). The reward of a good joke: Neural correlates of viewing dynamic displays of stand-up comedy. Cognitive, Affective and Behavioral Neuroscience, 11(4), 508–515. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13415-011-0049

Vrticka, P., Black, J. M., & Reiss, A. L. (2013, December 30). The neural basis of humour processing. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. Nature Publishing Group. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3566

Sensation-seeking

Norbury, A., Kurth-Nelson, Z., Winston, J. S., Roiser, J. P., & Husain, M. (2015). Dopamine regulates approach-avoidance in human sensation-seeking. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 18(10), pyv041. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyv041

Norbury, A., & Husain, M. (2015, July 15). Sensation-seeking: Dopaminergic modulation and risk for psychopathology. Behavioural Brain Research. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2015.04.015

Experimental Medicine

Laughter

Black, D. W. (1984). Laughter. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 252(21), 2995–2998. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1984.03350210043027

Scott, S. K., Lavan, N., Chen, S., & McGettigan, C. (2014). The social life of laughter. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2014.09.002

Wild, B., Rodden, F. A., Grodd, W., & Ruch, W. (2003, October 1). Neural correlates of laughter and humour. Brain. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awg226

Meyer, M., Baumann, S., Wildgruber, D., & Alter, K. (2007). How the brain laughs. Comparative evidence from behavioral, electrophysiological and neuroimaging studies in human and monkey. Behavioural Brain Research, 182(2), 245–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2007.04.023

Manninen, S., Tuominen, L., Dunbar, R. I., Karjalainen, T., Hirvonen, J., Arponen, E., … Nummenmaa, L. (2017). Social Laughter Triggers Endogenous Opioid Release in Humans. Journal of Neuroscience, 37(25), 6125–6131. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0688-16.2017

Ross, M., & Mason, G. J. (2017, December). The effects of preferred natural stimuli on humans’ affective states, physiological stress and mental health, and the potential implications for well-being in captive animals. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.09.012

GABA

Images of Food

Killgore, W. D. S., Young, A. D., Femia, L. A., Bogorodzki, P., Rogowska, J., & Yurgelun-Todd, D. A. (2003). Cortical and limbic activation during viewing of high- versus low-calorie foods. NeuroImage, 19(4), 1381–1394. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1053-8119(03)00191-5

Siep, N., Roefs, A., Roebroeck, A., Havermans, R., Bonte, M. L., & Jansen, A. (2009). Hunger is the best spice: An fMRI study of the effects of attention, hunger and calorie content on food reward processing in the amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex. Behavioural Brain Research, 198(1), 149–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2008.10.035

Beaver, J. D. (2006). Individual Differences in Reward Drive Predict Neural Responses to Images of Food. Journal of Neuroscience, 26(19), 5160–5166. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0350-06.2006

Padulo, C., Delli Pizzi, S., Bonanni, L., Edden, R. A. E., Ferretti, A., Marzoli, D., … Brancucci, A. (2016). GABA levels in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex during the viewing of appetitive and disgusting food images. Neuroscience, 333, 114–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.07.010

Calming and Relaxing

Möhler, H. (2012). The GABA system in anxiety and depression and its therapeutic potential. In Neuropharmacology (Vol. 62, pp. 42–53). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.08.040

Cryan, J. F., & Kaupmann, K. (2005, January). Don’t worry “B” happy!: A role for GABAB receptors in anxiety and depression. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tips.2004.11.004

Kalueff, A. V., & Nutt, D. J. (2007). Role of GABA in anxiety and depression. Depression and Anxiety, 24(7), 495–517. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.20262

Sinclair, L. I., & Nutt, D. J. (2012). Anxiolytics. Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 106, 669–679. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-52002-9.00040-1

Abdou, A. M., Higashiguchi, S., Horie, K., Kim, M., Hatta, H., & Yokogoshi, H. (2006). Relaxation and immunity enhancement effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) administration in humans. BioFactors (Oxford, England), 26(3), 201–8. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16971751

Serotonin

Sun/Light

Praschak-Rieder, N., & Willeit, M. (2012). Imaging of seasonal affective disorder and seasonality effects on serotonin and dopamine function in the human brain. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, 11, 149–167. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2011_174

Mead, M. N. (2008). Benefits of Sunlight: A Bright Spot for Human Health. Environmental Health Perspectives, 116(4), A160–A167. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2290997/

Kent, S. T., McClure, L. A., Crosson, W. L., Arnett, D. K., Wadley, V. G., & Sathiakumar, N. (2009). Effect of sunlight exposure on cognitive function among depressed and non-depressed participants: a REGARDS cross-sectional study. Environmental Health, 8, 34. http://doi.org/10.1186/1476-069X-8-34

Beecher, M. E., Eggett, D., Erekson, D., Rees, L. B., Bingham, J., Klundt, J., … Boardman, R. D. (2016). Sunshine on my shoulders: Weather, pollution, and emotional distress. Journal of Affective Disorders, 205, 234–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.07.021

Social Interaction/Social Reward

Dölen, G., Darvishzadeh, A., Huang, K. W., & Malenka, R. C. (2013). Social reward requires coordinated activity of nucleus accumbens oxytocin and serotonin. Nature, 501(7466), 179–184. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12518

Ross, H. E., & Young, L. J. (2009). Oxytocin and the neural mechanisms regulating social cognition and affiliative behavior. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 30(4), 534–547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yfrne.2009.05.004

Young, S. N. (2007). How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience : JPN, 32(6), 394–399. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18043762

Testosterone

Viewing Competitive Sporting Events

Bernhardt, P. C., Dabbs, J. M., Fielden, J. A., & Lutter, C. D. (1998). Testosterone changes during vicarious experiences of winning and losing among fans at sporting events. Physiology & Behavior, 65(1), 59–62. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9811365

van der Meij, L., Almela, M., Hidalgo, V., Villada, C., IJzerman, H., van Lange, P. A. M., & Salvador, A. (2012). Testosterone and Cortisol Release among Spanish Soccer Fans Watching the 2010 World Cup Final. PLoS ONE, 7(4), e34814. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0034814

Edwards, D. A. (2006). Competition and testosterone. Hormones and Behavior, 50(5), 681–683. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.YHBEH.2006.09.005

Carré, J. M., & Putnam, S. K. (2010). Watching a previous victory produces an increase in testosterone among elite hockey players. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 35(3), 475–479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.09.011

Oxytocin

Touch

Peled-Avron, L., Perry, A., & Shamay-Tsoory, S. G. (2016). The effect of oxytocin on the anthropomorphism of touch. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 66, 159–165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.01.015

Dunbar, R. I. M. (2010, February 1). The social role of touch in humans and primates: Behavioural function and neurobiological mechanisms. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. Pergamon. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2008.07.001

Grewen, K. M., Girdler, S. S., Amico, J., & Light, K. C. (2005). Effects of partner support on resting oxytocin, cortisol, norepinephrine, and blood pressure before and after warm partner contact. Psychosomatic Medicine, 67(4), 531–538. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000170341.88395.47

Light, K. C., Grewen, K. M., & Amico, J. A. (2005). More frequent partner hugs and higher oxytocin levels are linked to lower blood pressure and heart rate in premenopausal women. Biological Psychology, 69(1), 5-21. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2004.11.002

Sex

Garrison, J. L., Macosko, E. Z., Bernstein, S., Pokala, N., Albrecht, D. R., & Bargmann, C. I. (2012). Oxytocin/vasopressin-related peptides have an ancient role in reproductive behavior. Science, 338(6106), 540–543. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1226201

Williams, J. R., Carter, C. S., & Insel, T. (1992). Partner preference development in female prairie voles is facilitated by mating or the central infusion of oxytocin. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 652, 487–9. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1626857

Blitzer, D. S., Wells, T. E., & Hawley, W. R. (2017). Administration of an oxytocin receptor antagonist attenuates sexual motivation in male rats. Hormones and Behavior, 94, 33–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.06.002

Cute

Beetz, A., Uvnäs-Moberg, K., Julius, H., & Kotrschal, K. (2012). Psychosocial and Psychophysiological Effects of Human-Animal Interactions: The Possible Role of Oxytocin. Frontiers in Psychology, 3, 234. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00234

Borgi, M., & Cirulli, F. (2016). Pet Face: Mechanisms Underlying Human-Animal Relationships. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 298. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00298

Borgi, M., Cogliati-Dezza, I., Brelsford, V., Meints, K., & Cirulli, F. (2014). Baby schema in human and animal faces induces cuteness perception and gaze allocation in children. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 411. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00411

Golle, J., Lisibach, S., Mast, F. W., & Lobmaier, J. S. (2013). Sweet Puppies and Cute Babies: Perceptual Adaptation to Babyfacedness Transfers across Species. PLoS ONE, 8(3), e58248. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0058248

IsHak, W. W., Kahloon, M., & Fakhry, H. (2011). Oxytocin role in enhancing well-being: A literature review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 130(1–2), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2010.06.001

Nagasawa, M., Mitsui, S., En, S., Ohtani, N., Ohta, M., Sakuma, Y., … Kikusui, T. (2015). Oxytocin-gaze positive loop and the coevolution of human-dog bonds. Science, 348(6232), 333–336. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1261022

Nagasawa, M., Kikusui, T., Onaka, T., & Ohta, M. (2009). Dog’s gaze at its owner increases owner’s urinary oxytocin during social interaction. Hormones and Behavior, 55(3), 434–441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2008.12.002

Nittono H, Fukushima M, Yano A, Moriya H (2012) The Power of Kawaii: Viewing Cute Images Promotes a Careful Behavior and Narrows Attentional Focus. PLoS ONE 7(9): e46362. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0046362

Social Reward

Dölen, G., Darvishzadeh, A., Huang, K. W., & Malenka, R. C. (2013). Social reward requires coordinated activity of nucleus accumbens oxytocin and serotonin. Nature, 501(7466), 179–184. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12518

Ross, H. E., & Young, L. J. (2009). Oxytocin and the neural mechanisms regulating social cognition and affiliative behavior. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 30(4), 534–547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yfrne.2009.05.004

Uvnäs-Moberg, K. (1998). Oxytocin may mediate the benefits of positive social interaction and emotions. In Psychoneuroendocrinology (Vol. 23, pp. 819–835). Pergamon. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0306-4530(98)00056-0

Milek, A., Butler, E. A., Tackman, A. M., Kaplan, D. M., Raison, C. L., Sbarra, D. A., … Mehl, M. R. (2018). “Eavesdropping on Happiness” Revisited: A Pooled, Multisample Replication of the Association Between Life Satisfaction and Observed Daily Conversation Quantity and Quality. Psychological Science, 095679761877425. https://doi.org/10.11770956797618774252

Tamir, D. I., & Hughes, B. L. (2018). Social Rewards: From Basic Social Building Blocks to Complex Social Behavior. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 13(6), 700–717. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691618776263