Neurophysiological Hub of Pessimism and Depression? (BBC News / PNAS / Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience)

Summary

Researchers may have identified an area of the brain involved in the prediction of things about to go wrong or end unpleasantly. The habenula might be involved in depression; hyperactivity in this brain region may be associated with the pessimism found in depression.

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Reference

Mundasad, S. (2014). ‘Pea-sized brain hub could shed light on depression’. London: BBC Health News, July 29^th 2014.

This relates to:

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Reference

Lawson, RP. Seymour, B. [and] Loh, E. [et al] (2014). The habenula encodes negative motivational value associated with primary punishment in humans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. July 28^th 2014. [Epub ahead of print].

Possibly also of interest:

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Reference

Tomaiuolo, M. Gonzalez, C. [and] Medina, JH. [et al] (2014). Lateral Habenula determines long-term storage of aversive memories. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, May 13^th 2014, 8, pp.170. (Click here to view the PubMed abstract).