CHfather Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Posting this mostly because there's been interest expressed in some brain science stuff here. This isn't directly related to CH, or at least to CH causes and treatments (though I suppose maybe it is). So, here's a study that shows a tiny brain part directly involved in anticipating bad events -- the habenula. (Sounds so cute, doesn't it?) https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0714/290714-Bit-of-brain-signals-how-bad/ The two parts that interested me regarding CH were: >>“Fascinatingly, people were slower to press the button when the picture was associated with getting shocked, even though their response had no bearing on the outcome.” says lead author Dr Rebecca Lawson, also at the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience. “Furthermore, the slower people responded, the more reliably their habenula tracked associations with shocks. This demonstrates a crucial link between the habenula and motivated behaviour, which may be the result of dopamine suppression.”<< I don't know -- I was just thinking of how often people with CH wait even when they know they probably shouldn't -- hesitating to get on O2 at the first sign of an attack, or hesitating to bust at the first sign of a cycle, for example. >>“Other work shows that ketamine, which has profound and immediate benefits in patients who failed to respond to standard antidepressant medication, specifically dampens down habenula activity,” says Dr Roiser. “Therefore, understanding the habenula could help us to develop better treatments for treatment-resistant depression.”<< Just thinking here about the positive effects that some people who are taking ketamine have reported related to their mood. . . . Like I say, not a huge amount here, but the thing in itself is pretty interesting, I thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoxieGirl Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bejeeber Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Interesting fer sure, thanks. Although I have to admit I first clicked on this topic it because I thought the habenula might be a new dance step. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHfather Posted December 29, 2014 Author Share Posted December 29, 2014 Jeebs dancing the habenula Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bejeeber Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Wha??!! Where did you find that and how was it even filmed without my authorization?! OK I will go ahead and admit that for some time now I have in fact enjoyed a rewarding career as a professional dancer on the habenula circuit. That and break dancing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diamondmaker Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 As usual always interesting... >>A hyperactive habenula could cause people to make disproportionately negative predictions<< Or perhaps an imprint too strong... or over time too much to handle? PTSD anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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