Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Depressive Disorders: Etiology01:27

Depressive Disorders: Etiology

815
Depressive disorders result from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors, each contributing uniquely to the development and persistence of the condition. Understanding these factors provides critical insight into the multifaceted nature of depression.
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
815
Depression: Overview01:18

Depression: Overview

1.1K
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,...
1.1K
Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System01:15

Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System

8.4K
The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...
8.4K
Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

1.1K
Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the...
1.1K
Functional Brain Systems: Reticular Formation01:13

Functional Brain Systems: Reticular Formation

5.6K
The reticular formation is a complex network of gray and white matter located within the brainstem extending from the medulla to the midbrain.
Within the reticular formation, there are several distinct nuclei that can be classified into three broad categories. The Raphe nuclei are located along the midline of the brainstem. They are primarily known for their role in synthesizing and releasing serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood, appetite, sleep, and circadian rhythms. The...
5.6K
Long-term Depression01:03

Long-term Depression

3.5K
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.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
3.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Decomposing neuroanatomical heterogeneity in depression: insights from an ENIGMA major depressive disorder working group study in 5146 individuals.

Translational psychiatry·2026
Same author

Brain-wide Functional Connectivity Alterations in Major Depressive Disorder and Baseline Correlates of Treatment Response.

Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging·2026
Same author

Cognitive-behavioural therapy skill acquisition: impact on trajectories in depression symptoms and suicidal ideation: secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial of cognitive behavioural therapy plus fluoxetine in young people experiencing depression.

European child & adolescent psychiatry·2026
Same author

Economic evaluation of three forms of early intervention for young people with borderline personality disorder: a within-trial cost-utility analysis from the MOBY clinical trial.

European child & adolescent psychiatry·2026
Same author

Neural correlates of altered interoception in depressive and anxiety disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience·2026
Same author

Structural covariance, regional topology, and volumetric aspects of amygdala subnuclei in posttraumatic stress disorder using ultra-high field imaging.

Molecular psychiatry·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Animal Models of Depression - Chronic Despair Model CDM
05:47

Animal Models of Depression - Chronic Despair Model CDM

Published on: September 23, 2021

8.2K

The Depressed Brain: An Evolutionary Systems Theory.

Paul B Badcock1, Christopher G Davey2, Sarah Whittle3

  • 1Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia.

Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|February 6, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Depression may be an adaptive response to social threats, minimizing unpredictable social interactions. This perspective integrates brain function theory with evolutionary psychology to explain mood disorders.

More Related Videos

The Forced Swim Test as a Model of Depressive-like Behavior
05:42

The Forced Swim Test as a Model of Depressive-like Behavior

Published on: March 2, 2015

40.2K
An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents
06:55

An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents

Published on: December 2, 2015

23.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Animal Models of Depression - Chronic Despair Model CDM
05:47

Animal Models of Depression - Chronic Despair Model CDM

Published on: September 23, 2021

8.2K
The Forced Swim Test as a Model of Depressive-like Behavior
05:42

The Forced Swim Test as a Model of Depressive-like Behavior

Published on: March 2, 2015

40.2K
An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents
06:55

An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents

Published on: December 2, 2015

23.6K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Computational Psychiatry

Background:

  • Major depression presents with significant neurocognitive and behavioral deficits.
  • Depressed mood is a common human experience, suggesting an adaptive function.
  • Existing theories do not fully explain the adaptive role of depression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explain the adaptive function of depressed mood and its clinical manifestations.
  • To integrate the free-energy principle (FEP) with evolutionary psychology.
  • To propose a novel theoretical framework for understanding depression.

Main Methods:

  • Interdisciplinary theoretical approach combining FEP and evolutionary psychology.
  • Analysis of brain function theories and evolutionary perspectives on social behavior.
  • Conceptual modeling of depression as an adaptive response to social threats.

Main Results:

  • Depression is theorized as an adaptive strategy to minimize risks associated with unpredictable social outcomes.
  • This adaptive response aims to reduce the likelihood of aversive social exchanges, such as exclusion.
  • Psychopathology may arise from ineffective coping mechanisms or heightened neurobiological responses to social stress.

Conclusions:

  • Depressed mood may serve an adaptive function by mitigating perceived social threats.
  • Understanding depression through the lens of FEP and evolutionary theory offers new insights.
  • Early life experiences with social uncertainty may contribute to the development of social stress responses in depression.