The
Science of Depression
Firstly,
some brain facts!
1.
The average adult brain weighs 1300 to 1400 grams and is comprised of
the following:
Intracranial contents by volume (1,700 ml, 100%): brain = 1,400 ml (80%); blood = 150 ml (10%); cerebrospinal fluid = 150 ml (10%) (from Rengachary, S.S. and Ellenbogen, R.G., editors, Principles of Neurosurgery, Edinburgh: Elsevier Mosby, 2005)
2.
Your left side of your brain controls the right side of the body, and
vice versa. the difference in the number of neurons in the right and left hemispheres = 186 million MORE neurons on left side than right side
(Pakkenberg et al., 1997; 2003).
3.
Your left side of the brain is in charge of rational, analytical
thinking - a bit like a computer, and the right side of your brain is
the emotional component, the creative and softer stuff.
4.
Your brain has 2 lobes, and within those lobes are various components
that direct speech, hearing, vision, taste, smell and feeling. The
part that connects in the middle of the two lobes, is where information
crosses over, and is called the corpus callosum. a bit like a
railway crossing that bisects the road on either side.
5.
Your brain has a blood supply and the brain has millions of nerve cells,
called neurons (approximately 100 billion!), that communicate with each other along a nervous system
which is called a neural network.
6.
Vitamins and Minerals (found in your food) activate electrical charges
or transmitters and in turn, create substances that either improve your
brain's mental/emotional function and stability, or these same
substances can hinder your brain. Right down to the last molecule,
we need everything in balance including those transmitters.
7.
Neurons (5) carry the electrical transmitters called
neurotransmitters. There are quite a few different types of
neurotransmitters which release molecules such as serotonin
"pronounced Sara tone in", dopamine "dope a
mean", norepinephrine "naw ep (Like in Step) e nef
frean" and Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA).
8.
Your brain sends these neurotransmitters along the pathways of the
neural network.
9.
Just like the electricity that comes via the wires in the wall, these
neurotransmitters carry positive and negative impulses or charges
via molecules. (These impulses are not the same as a sudden
impulsive shopping spree!) Molecules could be imagined as a tiny
balloon carrying chemicals to drop off in certain spots. Look out,
here comes the love bomb!
10.
Sometimes when these neurotransmitters release their molecules, it
doesn't always get absorbed (called uptake) by the areas that need it,
so then the brain tries to take it back again. This is called
re-uptake.
11.
And science has come to the rescue and found that some substances will
prevent or inhibit the re-uptake, which means that those
neurotransmitters can eventually be used again. Neat, huh!
No waste in the body or the brain!
12.
When we have too much or too little of those important
neurotransmitters, then our brain responds with anxiety, depression,
stress or other more severe mental health disorders.
Some
more brain facts:
Length of myelinated nerve fibers in brain = 150,000-180,000
km (Pakkenberg et al., 1997; 2003) Who would think it?
That's
probably enough science for one newsletter, so I will continue this next
month.
Visit
the website for loads of quality information
Master's
Wisdom!
"I've
been smoodging when I'm hungry..
Some
people connect food and comfort too"
Call Home
Visits for Sick Computers
if your computer is
... well, unwell.
1300 664 066
I've used
these guys for years and
they give awesome service.
|
