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The biology of depression is the attempt to identify a biochemical origin of depression, as opposed to theories that emphasize psychological or situational causes. [ 1 ] Scientific studies have found that different brain areas show altered activity in humans with major depressive disorder (MDD) . [ 2 ]
Toxic encephalopathy is a neurologic disorder caused by exposure to neurotoxic organic solvents such as toluene, following exposure to heavy metals such as manganese, as a side effect of melarsoprol treatment for African trypanosomiasis, adverse effects to prescription drugs, or exposure to extreme concentrations of any natural toxin such as cyanotoxins found in shellfish or freshwater ...
For years, a chemical imbalance of serotonin has been widely viewed as the culprit for depression, resulting in the widespread use of antidepressants. The study published this week in the journal…
The brain stem is the first part of the brain that develops in a mammal out of the neural crest. It is also the oldest part of the brain and controls many automatic functions such as consciousness, breathing, heart rate, digestion, and many more. Opioid receptors are specialized pain-blocking receptors. They bind a wide range of hormones ...
Justin Paget/Digital Vision/Getty Images. ... About 280 million people worldwide and 26 million people in the United States have depression, which is a leading cause of disability. Some 30% to 40% ...
Serotonin (/ ˌ s ɛr ə ˈ t oʊ n ɪ n, ˌ s ɪər ə-/) [6] [7] [8] or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a monoamine neurotransmitter.Its biological function is complex, touching on diverse functions including mood, cognition, reward, learning, memory, and numerous physiological processes such as vomiting and vasoconstriction.
[59] [61] [66] For example, direct electrical stimulation of dopamine pathways, using electrodes implanted in the brain, is experienced as pleasurable, and many types of animals are willing to work to obtain it. [67] Antipsychotic drugs reduce dopamine levels and tend to cause anhedonia, a diminished ability to experience pleasure. [68]
Other causes of central nervous system depression are metabolic disturbances such as hypoglycemia. [2] Because the brain relies so heavily on glucose for normal functioning, a hypoglycemic state that severely deprives the brain of glucose would damage the brain's fuel sources.