Self-medicating insects may shed light on treatments for depression and anxiety
We've all been there: down in the dumps after a bad breakup or a date that just didn't go the way we thought it would. It's during those trying times when?a good drink sounds like the best thing in the world, and it seems that humans are not alone in that notion. A new, somewhat humorous study by the?University of California, San Francisco has proven that fruit flies turn to alcohol after being rejected by the opposite sex.
The strange experiment consisted of placing a male and female fruit fly in a plastic dish along with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic food sources. ?The researchers found that male flies who were rejected in their courtship attempts turned to the booze much more frequently than suitors who were deemed acceptable.
The reason for the fly's reliance on alcohol appears to be tied to the release of neuropeptide F, a pleasure chemical that is released during courtship. ?When the flies consumed the booze, the chemical is also released, allowing them to self-medicate much like some human?depression sufferers do. The research may lead to better treatments for depression and anxiety patients, allowing more individuals to kick the drink for good.
[via?NewScientist]
This article originally appeared on Tecca
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