Summary

University of Oregon neuroscientists have identified a group of brain cells that essentially act as a "disappointment meter," announcing when reality is falling short of expectations. In a study published in Current Biology , the researchers describe a specific group of neurons in the mouse brain that become active when the animal anticipates a reward but earns less than expected, or nothing at all. The findings reveal that feeling let down is something that particular cells in the brain are designed to detect and record.

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