The Joy of Why What Happens in the Brain to Cause Depression?
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May 23, 2024 The podcast delves into modern understanding of depression, challenging the outdated serotonin deficiency theory. It highlights the complexity of neurotransmitters like glutamate and GABA and discusses how neuroplasticity plays a crucial role in mental health. The emergence of novel treatments, notably ketamine, showcases exciting possibilities for restoring brain function. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of seeking help and awareness around mental health crises.
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Antidepressants Work Via Slow Brain Adaptation
- SSRIs raise serotonin quickly but clinical benefit takes weeks, so depression isn't just low serotonin.
- Antidepressants produce slower neural adaptations that likely underlie therapeutic effects.
Glutamate Is The Brain's Main Information Highway
- Glutamate accounts for over 90% of brain synapses and is the main excitatory transmitter.
- GABA provides inhibitory balance, and their interplay shapes information processing and mood regulation.
Excitation-Inhibition Balance Shapes Mental Signals
- Excitation generates signals while inhibition (GABA) tunes magnitude and timing to reduce noise.
- Depression disrupts this excitation-inhibition balance in mood, reward, attention, and memory circuits.