Publications by authors named "C J Harmer"
Background: While semaglutide, approved for type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is being investigated as a treatment for brain disorders, concerns over adverse neuropsychiatric events have emerged. More data are therefore needed to assess the effects of semaglutide on brain health. This study provides robust estimates of the risk of neurological and psychiatric outcomes following semaglutide use compared to three other antidiabetic medications.
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- Dopamine plays a crucial role in motivating individuals to exert effort for rewards, both for themselves and for others, as seen in studies involving Parkinson's Disease patients.
- While individuals generally show a greater willingness to exert effort for their own benefit, increasing dopamine availability through medication enhances prosocial motivation, leading patients to exert more effort for the benefit of others compared to when they are off medication.
- This research highlights the complex role of dopamine in shaping not only self-serving behaviors but also prosocial actions that are essential for social cohesion.
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- Unlabelled infections are a key global problem, with antibiotic resistance and capsular polysaccharide (CPS) playing significant roles in their virulence.
- A study identified an antibiotic-resistant isolate (48_n) from asymptomatic patients, revealing a unique CPS biosynthesis locus (KL71) and its structure using advanced spectroscopy techniques.
- Understanding diverse antibiotic resistance profiles, particularly from less common bacterial lineages, could offer insights into resistance spread and the development of new therapeutic interventions.
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- The study investigated how attentional bias modification (ABM) could help people vulnerable to depression by promoting focus on positive stimuli over negative ones.* -
- Participants in the ABM group showed an increase in emotional "inertia," but the findings were inconsistent and didn't clearly indicate that ABM was effective.* -
- Overall, the study found no significant effects of ABM on emotional dynamics or its relationship with depression symptoms after six months.*
The role of serotonin in human behaviour is informed by approaches which allow in vivo modification of synaptic serotonin. However, characterising the effects of increased serotonin signalling in human models of behaviour is challenging given the limitations of available experimental probes, notably selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Here we use a now-accessible approach to directly increase synaptic serotonin in humans (a selective serotonin releasing agent) and examine its influence on domains of behaviour historically considered core functions of serotonin.
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