Scientists have discovered a potential new treatment for depression by understanding how brain circuits affected by stress can predict resilience in mice. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco found that stimulating certain neurons could transform less resilient mice into ones that actively sought pleasure, suggesting a possible approach to treating depression.
The study focused on the amygdala and hippocampus brain regions, which play a crucial role in evaluating risks and remembering experiences. The researchers observed that stress altered activity in these areas of the brain, differentiating mice that recovered from stress from those that did not.
By stimulating specific neurons in the less resilient mice, the team was able to improve their decision-making and behavior, making them more likely to seek pleasure. This breakthrough suggests that a similar approach could be used to treat depression in humans.
The researchers plan to explore human brain data to determine if they can find similar signatures. Mazen Kheirbek, PhD, one of the study’s authors, stated, “If we can do that, we’ll have a new, non-invasive way of treating depression.”
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/depression-breakthrough-ucsf-scientists-discover-how-to-make-stressed-brains-happy-again