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Where the discomfort lives: A new study
11.11.2023 00:30
Updated: 13.05.2024 21:22
Scientists have found a new part of the brain that makes us feel very uncomfortable when it's turned on.
This discovery suggests that a brain area called the subthalamic nucleus, known for controlling our movements, can also be linked to depression.
This new information can potentially help create better treatments for Parkinson's disease.
How it was discovered
When the scientists activated the subthalamic nucleus in mice, the mice tried to get away from it, showing that this brain area is connected to feelings of discomfort.
Even after the brain area was turned off, the mice still avoided the place where it happened, showing that the feeling stayed in their memory.
This is significant because avoiding things that make us feel bad is connected to depression in humans.
The researchers also found that this brain area connects directly to the part of our brain that deals with emotions, especially during strong feelings of discomfort.
The scientists used a method called optogenetics to stimulate only the subthalamic nucleus and not other parts of the brain in mice.
This involved using a specific kind of light to activate or deactivate individual neurons in the mice's brains, which were genetically modified to have light-sensitive proteins on their surfaces.
It might be helpful
This method allowed the scientists to research how the mice's behavior changed when the neurons were more or less active in the subthalamic nucleus.
