El Blog de Rubén Carvajal

Patterns of connections between brain cells could determine vulnerability to stress, depression by Bethany Brookshire 4:57pm, June 3, 2014 Neurons like this one (green) can become active in times of stress . A new study in mice shows that the connections a neuron develops could make the difference between shrugging off stress and entering a depressive episode. We all respond to stress in different ways. Some of us work harder. Others drink more or eat our feelings. Sometimes we experience sleep loss, heart palpitations or sweats. When the stress dissipates, many of us go back to our daily lives, none the worse for wear. We are resilient. But some people find that stress is a first step on the way to a major depressive episode. It’s not quite clear what’s different between people who go back to normal after stress, and those who descend into depression. “One of the most important questions is, how do th...