Posted on Dec 21, 2018
Scientists Find A Brain Circuit That Could Explain Seasonal Depression
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Just in time for the winter solstice, scientists may have figured out how short days can lead to dark moods.
Two recent studies suggest the culprit is a brain circuit that connects special light-sensing cells in the retina with brain areas that affect whether you are happy or sad.
When these cells detect shorter days, they appear to use this pathway to send signals to the brain that can make a person feel glum or even depressed.
"It's very likely that things like seasonal affective disorder involve this pathway," says Jerome Sanes, a professor of neuroscience at Brown University.
Two recent studies suggest the culprit is a brain circuit that connects special light-sensing cells in the retina with brain areas that affect whether you are happy or sad.
When these cells detect shorter days, they appear to use this pathway to send signals to the brain that can make a person feel glum or even depressed.
"It's very likely that things like seasonal affective disorder involve this pathway," says Jerome Sanes, a professor of neuroscience at Brown University.
Scientists Find A Brain Circuit That Could Explain Seasonal Depression
Posted from npr.org
Science
Medical
Health
Mental Health
Depression
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 2
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Thank you for the interesting scientific research share brother Chip
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An excellent find! Thank you PO1 William "Chip" Nagel !
My initial thought upon reading the article was: Is there an evolutionary purpose to the seasonal depression?
I noticed in the abstract of the second study that it stated "Mood regulation by light... requires an SCN-independent pathway linking ipRGCs to a previously unrecognized thalamic region, termed perihabenular nucleus (PHb)"
Given that the Thalmic region deals with (among other things) the regulation of consciousness, sleep, and alertness and the habenular nuclei act as a regulator of key central nervous system neurotransmitters, then perhaps the stimulus evolved to slow the metabolism for survival? I would love to see studies on how this affects metabolism over the shorter days of winter.
My initial thought upon reading the article was: Is there an evolutionary purpose to the seasonal depression?
I noticed in the abstract of the second study that it stated "Mood regulation by light... requires an SCN-independent pathway linking ipRGCs to a previously unrecognized thalamic region, termed perihabenular nucleus (PHb)"
Given that the Thalmic region deals with (among other things) the regulation of consciousness, sleep, and alertness and the habenular nuclei act as a regulator of key central nervous system neurotransmitters, then perhaps the stimulus evolved to slow the metabolism for survival? I would love to see studies on how this affects metabolism over the shorter days of winter.
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