Neurobiology of Mood Flashcards
What is the function appetitive/approach mood systems in the brain?
Behave in a way to seek pleasurable factors/things that will benefit us
What is the function of aversive/defensive mood systems in the brain?
Behave in a way to avoid adversity and threats to our survival
Which chemical is generally associated with appetitive/approach behaviour?
Dopamine
Which chemical is generally associated with aversive/defensive behaviour?
Serotonin
There is an increase in aversive behaviour in mania/hypomania. True/False?
False
Increase in aversive behaviour in depression; increase in appetitive behaviour in mania
Cortisol is low in depressed people. True/False? Why?
False
Cortisol typically chronically elevated (dexamethasone fails to suppress cortisol production)
List the key regions of the brain implicated in mood disorders
Orbital + ventromedial prefrontal cortex Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex Hippocampus Amygdala Anterior cingulate cortex
What is the effect of major depression on hippocampal volume?
Decrease in hippocampal volume due to reduced neurogenesis
Depression, and other mood disorders, have a single gene cause. True/ False?
False
Complex polygenic influences association with multiple variants and environmental interactions
State the epidemiology of depression in terms of male: female ratio
1:2
State the epidemiology of bipolar disorder in terms of male: female ratio
1:1
List types of structural and functional neuroimaging used in mood disorders
CT, MRI, DTI/DSI
fMRI, PET, SPET
List cognitive deficits that are common features of depression
Poor attention Poor memory Slowed reaction time Impairments in planning Impairment in emotional recognition
Which part of the brain stores the function for emotional recognition?
Insular cortex
