Posted by Cam W. on August 16, 2001, at 16:24:12
In reply to Re: Serotonin vs. Dopamine Deficiency - Symptoms? » Cam W., posted by Mitch on August 16, 2001, at 12:16:44
Mitch - The "sticky switch" theory that you mention is just one of several possibilities of things going on in the brain. I have read a few articles that have shown some problems with information sharing problems between brain hemispheres. It may explain some cases, but not all.
There are many different theories coming to light, especially with the much higher resolution of today's imaging techniques and the invention of compounds that bind very specifically to individual receptors (although both techniques have not been perfected).
I think the biggest advances are being made in the relationship of different neurotransmitter systems to each other, and the specific interactions of these systems in various brain structures (esp. the anterior cingulate cortex and it's connections to various parts of the hippocampus and thalamus).
The picture is far from complete and I know of no single journal article (so far) that paints even a rough sketch of everything that is going on. Cytokines and the effect of the immune system on emotional states is very interesting. Nitric oxide's actions as a nontraditional neurotransmitter/neuromodulator and it's function in relaxation therapy and possibly the placebo effect. The relationship of glucocorticoid receptor concentrations to mood disorders. New developments in GABAergic and cholinergic neurotransmitter systems and their relationship to the traditional 3 neurotransmitters is neat.
Many of the articles, where I have read a lot of information is on Neuroscion.com ( http://www.neuroscion.com ) in the library section. You have to sign up, but they give you full access to about 25 articles, and scanning the abstracts is free. Most of the journals are fairly techinical, but for a geek like me, they are facinating. Journals like "Neuropsychopharmacology", "The European Journal of Pharmacology", "The Journal of Psychiatric Research" "Brain Research Reviews", and "Clinical Neuroscience Research", as well as a number of others, often have good articles.
I hope that this is of some help. There are just too many areas being looked at to give a synopsis of what is going on. The one common theme of many of these research avenues is that we've gone as far as the monoamine hypothesis will take us and it is now time to look at different avenues of research. - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:74037
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010814/msgs/75311.html