Source of ‘optimism’ found in the brain - being-human - 24 October 2007 - New Scientist

Source of ‘optimism’ found in the brain - being-human - 24 October 2007 - New Scientist

Two regions of the brain linked to optimism have been discovered by researchers. The identification of the sites that signal positive thinking could shed light on the causes of depression, they say.

The US team says that the act of imagining a positive future event – such as winning an award or receiving a large sum of cash – activates two brain areas known as the amygdala and the rostral anterior cingulated cortex (rACC). The finding lends weight to earlier studies that suggested these brain regions malfunction in depression and hint at new ways of diagnosing the disorder.

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