Science Daily notes that, according to scientists, this determines the brain's response to stimuli that lead to beneficial behaviors or their disregard.
“Our ability to associate certain signals or stimuli with positive or rewarding experiences is a fundamental process in the brain, but it malfunctions in many conditions, such as addiction, depression, and schizophrenia,” says Dr. Alexi Ostromov, head of the research team and associate professor of pharmacology and physiology at Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Scientists have discovered that when KCC2 levels are low, dopamine neurons become faster at firing signals, facilitating the formation of new connections. Dopamine neurons release a key neurotransmitter for motivation, reward, and motor control.
Experiments in rats using Pavlov's classic model have shown that dopamine signals enhance the frequency and coherence of nerve impulses. These short bursts of dopamine act as powerful learning signals, helping the brain to make sense of acquired experiences.
According to Ostromov, these findings help explain why obsessive associations are so easily formed. For example, a person might habitually combine their morning coffee with a cigarette—because coffee alone triggers a strong craving for cigarettes. Preventing such situations or restoring healthy learning mechanisms could improve addiction treatment.
He says: "We believe these findings go beyond basic learning research. Because they reveal new ways in which the brain regulates communication between neurons. And since this communication can be disrupted by many brain diseases, we hope that by preventing this disruption or restoring normal communication when it is disrupted, we can help develop more effective treatments for a wide range of brain diseases."
