Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
05:15
Intermittent Binge-Intake Model in Mice
Published on: January 10, 2025
Chocolate: food for moods
1Centre for Clinical and Quality of Life Studies (CCQoLS), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sultan ZainalAbidin (UniSZA), Kampus Kota, 20400 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia.
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition
|February 7, 2012
Summary
Chocolate consumption
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Nutritional Science
- Psychology
Background:
- Chocolate consumption is linked to pleasure and mood.
- Potential neurotransmitter interactions influence mood and appetite.
- Evidence on chocolate's mood effects is controversial and complex.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review chocolate's properties.
- To examine hypotheses on its mood-altering effects.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of chocolate's properties.
- Analysis of hypotheses regarding mood alteration.
Main Results:
- The chocolate-mood link is complex, involving psychopharmacology, nutrition, and sensory aspects.
- Individual and situational factors influence mood effects.
- Previous research shows mixed results, with unclear directional association.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to confirm chocolate's mood-altering effects.
- Multi-faceted investigations are required to understand the chocolate-mood relationship.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Taste Buds and Receptors
Gustation, or the sense of taste, is intrinsically linked to the anatomical structures located on the tongue. This organ's surface, along with the entirety of the oral cavity, is adorned with stratified squamous epithelium. Evident on the tongue are elevated structures known as papillae (singular = papilla), which house the mechanisms for the transduction of gustatory stimuli. Four distinct types of papillae exist, each identified by their unique morphological attributes: the circumvallate,...
01:27Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia
Depressive disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by pervasive feelings of sadness, diminished pleasure in life, and a significant impact on daily functioning. These conditions are most prevalent in individuals during their 30s and affect women at twice the rate of men. Contrary to popular belief, younger individuals are generally more susceptible to these disorders than older adults. Two key types of depressive disorders include Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and...
01:18Depression: Overview
Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
01:23Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...
01:01Role of Emotions in Social Life
Emotions play a fundamental role in shaping human experience and interactions. The absence of emotions would render life incomplete and fail to capture the essence of human nature. In social psychology, feelings and moods have been extensively studied due to their profound impact on social life and interpersonal relationships. These affective states influence decision-making, behavior, and social perceptions, making them integral to understanding human interactions.Emotions and Social...
01:25Antidepressant Drugs: Overview
Antidepressant drugs are a class of medications primarily used for treating various mood disorders, including major depression, anxiety disorders, and other related conditions. These medicines work by modulating the neurotransmitter balance within the brain, alleviating depressive symptoms. Antidepressants can be broadly categorized into several groups according to their mechanism of action and chemical structure: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-Norepinephrine...