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what are the the spectrums of mood?
depression, hypomania, and mania
what is the limbic system?
part of the temporal lobe involved in behavioral and emotional responses
where, in the brain, is there cross talk between emotion, stress, reward, and memories circuits?
temple and frontal lobe
how does neuroplasticity influence mood states?
can lead to good or bad memories, stress, or reward factors due to environment
what is the prefrontal cortex (PFC)?
the frontmost part of the frontal lobe in the brain, responsible for higher-level cognitive functions like planning, decision-making, judgment, working memory, and regulating emotions
what is the amygdala responsible for?
processing emotions as part of the limbic system
what is the hypothalamus responsible for?
conveying emotion (fight or flight) because of the amygdala
what is the thalamus?
processing and integrating sensory, motor, and cognitive information to your brain and to your body
what is anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)?
part of the limbic system and is involved in the regulation of motivation, emotional, and decision-making responses
what is hippocampus responsible for?
involved in memory, learning, and emotion
what is insula?
a small region of the cerebral cortex that processes sensory information, emotions, and other complex functions
what types of neurotransmitters are involved in depression?
serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine
what is the brain stem?
part of the central nervous system that connects the brain to the spinal cord
where is serotonin produced?
raphe nuclei
which area makes dopamine?
ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra
where is norepinephrine produced?
locus coeruleus
Serotonin, dopamine, ephinephrine, and norepinephrine are examples of
biogenic amines
what is the definition of depression?
state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person’s thoughts, behavior, feelings, and sense of well-being
what are some causes of depression?
genetics, epigenetics, microbiome, trauma, and inflammation
what is the Vagus nerve responsible for?
connects the gastrointestinal tract to the brain, influencing gut health and mental well-being
what is tryptophan hydroxylase (tph)?
an enzyme involved in the raphe nuclei (production of serotonin)
what is monoamine hypothesis?
proposes that a deficiency or imbalance in certain neurotransmitters in the brain contributes to the development and symptoms of depression
what role does SERT and NET play?
can reuptake serotonin or norepinephrine by moving back to the pre-synapse
how can SERT or NET be a drug target?
known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), it can inhibit the reuptake of serotonin, increasing its availability in the synapse
SERT and NET are what kind of signaling receptor?
GPCR
how does circadian rhythm influence depression and mood?
changes in brain chemistry that affects sleep-wake patterns and production of serotonin (in turn, affects production of melatonin)
how does stress influence depression and mood?
alternations in activity in the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis which affects cortisol
what are ways to measure brain regions associated with depression?
volume of brain region
consequences of drugs on structure and function
determine key neurotransmitter and their location
metabolism
electrical activity
what is orbital frontal cortex (OFC)?
a prefrontal cortex region in the frontal lobes of the brain which is involved in the cognitive process of decision-making
what genes are associated with MDD?
mutations in SERT, dopamine receptor, BDNF, microRNAs
what gene is associated with MDD and postpartum depression?
monoamine oxidase (MAO)
what does MAO do?
breaks down serotonin
what can be used to stop MAO from breaking down serotonin?
MAO inhibitors
what can we suggest about the role of microbiome in depression?
probiotics or fecal transplants are possible methods to reduce MDD and improving mood
what are some mechanisms in epigenetics that can affect gene expression?
methylation and histone modifications
what is hypermethylation?
increases DNA methylation, resulting in under expression of genes
what is hypomethylation?
decrease in DNA methylation, resulting in over expression of genes
what is histone acetylation?
adding acetyl group increases gene expression
what is histone deacetylation?
removing acetyl group decreases gene expression
