Warning: This piece mentions suicide. The habenula is a tiny structure buried deep within the brain, composed of two distinct subregions—the medial (MHb) and lateral habenula (LHb). Although small, it is a critical hub for regulating mood, motivation, and reward processing. Because of this, researchers have begun to link abnormalities[Read More…]
Tag: depression
The link between mental health and breathlessness
Have you ever trudged through the snow up rue University, about to write a final exam that will make or break your grade? By the time you reach the top of that hill, you might be feeling more out of breath than usual. A recent study involving Dennis Jensen, a[Read More…]
Investigating the link between sex-dependent gene expressions and major depressive disorder
Why do women experience major depressive disorder (MDD) at nearly twice the rate of men in the post-puberty stage? During this critical stage, MDD manifests in a sex-specific way in its prevalence, symptomatology, and treatment responses when comparing males and females. In a recent publication in Brain, Behaviour, and Immunity,[Read More…]
New research on ketamine may lead to novel treatments for depression
Ketamine, a schedule III drug, is often used recreationally for its hallucinogenic effects. Its approved purpose, however, is as an anesthetic in medical settings for animals and humans. Recently, it has also been approved by the FDA to treat major depressive disorder in patients who are resistant to other treatments. [Read More…]
Ask Ainsley: I think I need help
Dear Ainsley, I’ve been denying that I need help, but I don’t think I can anymore. Over the last few months, I just don’t get excited about the things I used to enjoy, I’m struggling to even get out of bed, and I feel numb, like I’m running on autopilot.[Read More…]
Hippocampus research introduces a new understanding of stress
In Aug. 2019, a team led by McGill professor and researcher Tak Pan Wong published a new study about the hippocampus and its ability to retain memories of stressful experiences. Published in the Journal for Neuroscience, the study detailed new connections to mental disorders such as depression and post-traumatic stress[Read More…]
Blunting your mental resilience
Legalized in October 2018, cannabis is becoming an accepted part of mainstream society. However, researchers from McGill and the University of Oxford suggest that its effects may not be as well-understood as commonly believed. Their analysis has garnered international attention for linking cannabis use to depression and suicide risk in[Read More…]
Music shown to significantly improve mental motivation
There’s something about music that engages the brain, often eliciting a strong emotion simply using the ears. While it might just be an abstract pattern of pitches and rhythms, music somehow has significant biological and therapeutic implications. A recent study co-authored by McGill researchers explains the phenomenon, providing novel evidence[Read More…]
Ask Ainsley: How do I overcome the winter blues?
Dear Ainsley, I'm an international student at McGill and I come from a country that experiences a hot and dry climate for the majority of the year. I felt like the weather during the fall was fine, but I’m having trouble getting through the Winter semester so far. I'm more[Read More…]
Rap loses its rockstar
On the night of Nov. 15, Gustav Åhr, known by his stage name Lil Peep, was found dead inside his tour bus outside of a venue in Tucson, Arizona. He was set to perform in the second to last stop on his Come Over When You’re Sober tour, a 68-day tour[Read More…]