Title: Brain’s visual cortex found to help regulate mood—and possibly plays a role in depression.
The visual cortex isn’t just for seeing—it’s now been found to interact with mood-regulating systems in the brain. This suggests depression might involve brain areas we didn’t expect, and could lead to new approaches for treatment that go beyond the usual focus on emotional centers like the amygdala or prefrontal cortex.
Title: Discovery of dopamine receptors in a previously overlooked part of the brain sheds light on the complex circuitry for anxiety and depression.
They discovered that D1 and D2 dopamine receptors in the brain have opposite effects on approach and avoidance decisions. It’s interesting and I think it can help not only in the understanding and treatment of anxiety and depression but also give valuable insights into impulsivity and executive dysfunction in ADHD!