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Depression: Overview

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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,...

Long-term Depression

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Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 16, 2026

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression

Published on: May 19, 2015

Brain, networks, depression, and more.

Samuël J Leistedt¹, Paul Linkowski

¹Laboratory of Psychiatric Research, Department of Psychiatry, Erasme Academic Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles-U.L.B., Brussels, Belgium. samuel.leistedt@erasme.ulb.ac.be

European Neuropsychopharmacology : the Journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology

|November 17, 2012

Summary

Major depression may stem from information-processing issues in brain networks, not just chemical imbalances. Antidepressants may work by improving neuronal connectivity and information processing for recovery.

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A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats

Published on: February 22, 2018

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Last Updated: May 16, 2026

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression

Published on: May 19, 2015

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats

Published on: February 22, 2018

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Psychiatry
Computational Biology

Background:

Depression is a complex mood disorder with variable patient responses to treatment.
The traditional chemical imbalance hypothesis is increasingly challenged by new evidence.
Understanding the biological underpinnings of depression is crucial for effective therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current biological mechanisms of major depression.
To focus on the role of complex brain networks in depressive disorders.
To explore alternative hypotheses beyond the classical neurotransmitter imbalance theory.

Main Methods:

Literature review of current research on depression's biological basis.
Analysis of studies investigating neural network dysfunction in depression.
Examination of the impact of antidepressant treatments on neuronal plasticity and information processing.

Main Results:

Evidence suggests information-processing deficits in neural networks may underlie depression.
Antidepressant drugs appear to induce neuroplastic changes, enhancing neuronal connectivity.
Improvements in neuronal information processing correlate with recovery from depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

The classical chemical imbalance theory may be insufficient to explain depression.
Dysfunctional information processing within brain networks is a significant area of focus.
Antidepressant mechanisms likely involve promoting neuroplasticity and restoring network function.