Neuroscience

'When Neurons Are Out of Shape, Antidepressants May Not Work'

Salk Institute researchers may be a step closer to discovering why 30% of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) do not respond to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Their hypothesis is this: “When neurons are out of shape, antidepressants may not work.” Understanding why some patients respond to SSRIs, while others do not, has on...

Can Neuroscience Help Explain Why Shorter Days Can Lead to Darker Moods?

  The winter months bring shorter days and darker nights, but for some they also bring a darker mood. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of seasonal depression commonly known as “winter blues” affects one in five people. To be diagnosed with SAD, people must meet full criteria for major depression coinciding with specific seasons (appearing in the win...