'Pea-sized brain hub could shed light on depression'

[Northerner]

Scientists say a part of the brain, smaller than a pea, triggers the instinctive feeling that something bad is about to happen.

Writing in the journal PNAS, they suggest the habenula plays a key role in how humans predict, learn from and respond to nasty experiences.

And they question whether hyperactivity in this area is responsible for the pessimism seen in depression.

They are now investigating whether the structure is involved in the condition.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-28525974

 

[Andy HB]

Fortunately, my brain is bigger than a pea, so I won't have any problems on this account.

Andy 😎

 

[bill hopkinson]

Scientists say a part of the brain, smaller than a pea, triggers the instinctive feeling that something bad is about to happen.

Writing in the journal PNAS, they suggest the habenula plays a key role in how humans predict, learn from and respond to nasty experiences.

And they question whether hyperactivity in this area is responsible for the pessimism seen in depression.

They are now investigating whether the structure is involved in the condition.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-28525974

• Well, the habenula is usually smaller in people with long term depression, so hypoactivity is a more plausible theory than hyperactivity. Lack of capability of dealing with negative stimuli.
• Stimulation of the lateral habenula has been a last resort treatment for depression for some time, because of its supposed underactivity in depressives.
• Remember that the talk about response to negative stimuli in the habenula is low level instinctive reaction, nothing to do with higher level developed thought