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depression

·April 4, 2025·3 min read

How Psilocybin Lifts Mood Without the Hallucinogenic Trip

Researchers have uncovered two key brain mechanisms—specific neurons and a serotonin receptor—that help explain how psilocybin produces long-lasting antidepressant effects. Their study identified pyramidal tract neurons in the medial frontal cortex and the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor as essential to the therapeutic action of psilocybin.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 19, 2025·3 min read

Higher Depression Risks for Night Owls

A new study finds that staying up late, known as having an “evening chronotype,” is associated with a higher risk of depression. Researchers analyzed data from 546 university students and found that this link is influenced by sleep quality, alcohol consumption, and mindfulness levels.

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Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·February 18, 2025·4 min read

Depression Speeds Up Physical Illness

Adults with a history of depression develop long-term physical conditions about 30% faster than those without, according to a large study. Researchers analyzed data from over 172,000 participants and found that those with depression accrued an average of 0.2 additional conditions per year, compared to 0.16 in those without.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 14, 2025·4 min read

How Ketamine Binds to Brain Receptors to Alter Mood

New research sheds light on how ketamine affects the brain by targeting a specific NMDA receptor subtype, GluN1-2B-2D. Scientists used electron cryo-microscopy to capture how ketamine binds to this receptor, revealing multiple attachment sites that influence brain activity.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 30, 2025·6 min read

Blood Test May Predict Postpartum Depression Through Hormone Levels

Women who develop postpartum depression (PPD) may have distinct neuroactive steroid levels during the third trimester of pregnancy. A study found that those with PPD had lower levels of pregnanolone, which reduces stress, and higher levels of isoallopregnanolone, which increases stress.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 27, 2025·3 min read

Dopamine Clock May Drive Bipolar Mood Swings

New research suggests that mood swings in bipolar disorder are regulated by two clocks: the body’s 24-hour circadian rhythm and a dopamine-based clock that influences alertness. When these clocks align at specific intervals, they may trigger shifts between mania and depression.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 22, 2025·7 min read

Targeting Reward Pathways to Treat Depression

New research highlights how the brain's reward-learning system can guide personalized treatments for depression. By studying two brain signals, expected value and prediction error, researchers identified markers that predict recovery potential and tailored responses to rewards and setbacks.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 27, 2024·4 min read

Oxytocin Influences Social Behavior and Emotional Response

New research reveals how oxytocin profoundly influences social behavior and emotional responses in the brain. Animal models have shown how this hormone impacts social fear and how chronic stress or early life experiences shape behavioral patterns.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 17, 2024·5 min read

Teen Brain’s Blunted Reward Response Predicts Depression Onset

A new study reveals that a reduced neural response to rewards in teens predicts the first onset of depression, but not anxiety or suicidality. Researchers used EEG scans to measure "reward positivity" in at-risk adolescents and found that those with blunted responses were more likely to develop depression.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 17, 2024·6 min read

Ketamine Reduces “Giving Up” by Targeting Brain Support Cells

Researchers have found that ketamine’s antidepressant effects target astroglia, a type of brain support cell, rather than neurons, challenging conventional views. Using zebrafish, scientists observed that ketamine suppressed the “giving up” behavior caused by futility signals, an effect linked to astroglial activation.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 12, 2024·8 min read

Gut Serotonin Plays Role in Depression and Mood

Serotonin in the gut epithelium plays a critical role in modulating mood and may provide a safer target for treating depression and anxiety. In animal studies, increasing gut serotonin improved mood symptoms without causing digestive issues, unlike systemic antidepressant treatments.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·December 5, 2024·5 min read

Depression Genes in Women Linked to Higher Heart Disease Risk

A new study analyzing genetic data from over 300,000 people revealed that women with a high genetic risk for depression also face a higher likelihood of developing heart disease, even without a depression diagnosis. This link was not observed in men, highlighting significant gender differences. Researchers emphasized the importance of addressing cardiovascular health in women, particularly those with depression, regardless of menopausal status.