New Books in Neuroscience Camilla Nord, "The Balanced Brain: The Science of Mental Health" (Princeton UP, 2024)
Jan 15, 2025
Camilla Nord, a neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge and leader of the Mental Health Neuroscience Lab, dives into the science of mental health. She discusses how our brains strive for balance amidst life's chaos and how different interventions, from antidepressants to simple mood-lifting activities, work at a neurological level. Nord explores the connection between physical and mental health, the surprising power of belief, and innovative treatments like non-invasive electrical stimulation. Her insights redefine how we approach mental well-being.
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Mind-Body Connection in Mental Health
- Mental health is often discussed metaphysically, neglecting its vital physical connection to the brain.
- This separation contributes to stigma and hinders effective treatment by creating a divide between mind and body.
Parkinson's and Depression: A Biological Link
- Camilla Nord's interest in mental health neuroscience stemmed from learning about the biological similarities between Parkinson's disease and depression.
- Both conditions involve dopamine deficits, highlighting the biological basis of mental health.
Brain's Construction of Mental Health
- Our brains construct our sense of mental health by integrating cognitive interpretations of mental states and bodily sensations (interoception).
- Prior experiences, expectations, and learned attributions influence these perceptions, similar to how our brains interpret visual information.
