Researchers Identify Brain Circuit Linked to Stress Resilience

A study finds that stimulating communication between the amygdala and hippocampus in mice reverses depressive behaviors, offering potential for new depression treatments.

• Scientists at UC San Francisco discovered a brain circuit involving the amygdala and hippocampus that predicts resilience to stress in mice.
• Disrupted communication in this circuit was linked to impaired decision-making and reduced reward-seeking behavior in less resilient mice.
• Using chemogenetics, researchers stimulated the neurons in affected mice, restoring normal behavior and decision-making patterns.
• The findings suggest the possibility of developing non-invasive treatments for depression by targeting similar brain activity patterns in humans.
• Further research is underway to explore comparable neural signatures in human brains and translate these insights into clinical applications.

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