Summary: Scientists have identified how depression alters the brain’s response to positive and negative stimuli, particularly in the amygdala, a key emotional processing center. The study found that depression reduces…
Tag: Depression
Happiness class is helping clinically depressed school teachers become emotionally healthy − with a cheery assist from Aristotle
Uncommon Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to teaching. Title of Course Evidence-Based Happiness for Teachers What prompted the idea for the course? I…
Optimism Boosted by Psilocybin, Hinting at Depression Relief
Summary: Researchers have discovered that psilocybin, a psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms, increases optimism and motivation in rats, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits for treating depression. Using computational modeling, scientists observed…
Gene Activity in Depression Linked to Immune System and Inflammation
Summary: A new study reveals that inflammation and immune system activation are closely linked to major depressive disorder (MDD), particularly in those resistant to standard antidepressants. Researchers analyzed gene expression…
Targeting Liver X Receptor Beta for Depression Treatment
Summary: A recent review highlights the potential of liver X receptor beta (LXRβ) as a target for treating depression and anxiety. Known for regulating cholesterol, LXRβ is emerging as a…
AI Detects Depression Through Eyes and Facial Cues
Summary: Researchers are developing AI-driven smartphone applications to detect signs of depression non-invasively. One system, PupilSense, monitors pupillary reflexes to identify potential depressive episodes with 76% accuracy. Another tool, FacePsy,…
Men are carrying the brunt of the ‘loneliness epidemic’ amid potent societal pressures
A few weeks before Justin Bieber and his wife, Hailey, announced in May 2024 that they were expecting, the pop icon posted a selfie where he appears tearful and distraught.…
Wind phones help the bereaved deal with death, loss and grief − a clinical social worker explains the vital role of the old-fashioned rotary phone
My mother died in my home in hospice in 2020, on the day my state of Washington went into COVID-19 lockdown. Her body was taken away, but none of the…
Role of Serotonin Release in Depression Uncovered
Summary: Researchers developed a highly selective fluorescent probe to image serotonin in cells and animal models, shedding light on its role in depression. The study revealed that while serotonin levels…
Environment and Hippocampal Size Impact Depression in Youth
Summary: Challenging social environments and the size of the left hippocampus in children aged 9-11 contribute to an increased risk of depression. Researchers found that children with larger hippocampal volumes…
