#mentalhealthscience — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #mentalhealthscience, aggregated by home.social.
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DATE: May 17, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Anatomical brain mapping separates structural deviations of violent psychosis from non-violent schizophrenia
Researchers have mapped how the physical structures of individual brains differ from a baseline norm in people who have a history of severe violence and schizophrenia. This analytical approach highlights individual differences rather than simple group averages, offering a potential path toward personalized psychiatric treatments. The findings were published in Translational Psychiatry.
Forensic psychiatry attempts to understand why some individuals with severe mental health conditions commit violent acts. Finding biological patterns in the brain can help doctors provide better care and improve clinical evaluations in high-security settings.
Previous brain imaging research has searched for structural abnormalities related to aggression. These older studies often grouped many patients together and compared their average brain structures to the averages of healthy people.
A statistical group average can easily hide the wide variety of differences that exist from person to person. Two individuals with the identical psychiatric diagnosis might exhibit completely different physical brain alterations.
Unn K. Haukvik, a researcher at the University of Oslo and the Centre for Research and Education in Forensic Psychiatry at Oslo University Hospital, led a team to approach this anatomical diversity differently. The researchers wanted to map the specific brain characteristics of single individuals instead of relying on a pooled statistical average.
To do this, the team used a statistical technique called normative modeling. This mathematical method works exactly like a pediatric growth chart in a doctor’s office.
Just as a pediatrician plots a child’s height against a massive database of typical growth trajectories, normative modeling maps a person’s brain anatomy against a vast reference population. This allows researchers to identify exactly how and where an individual’s brain deviates from the typical aging path.
The study involved adult men from the Oslo area. The researchers focused heavily on 38 men who had been diagnosed with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder and also had a documented hospital or court record of a severely violent episode.
Severe violence was defined strictly as homicide, attempted homicide, or physical or sexual violence directed toward another person. These specific participants were being held in high-security hospital wards as part of their mandated psychiatric care.
For comparison, the study included 138 men with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder but no history of violence. The study sample also included 20 men serving preventive detention sentences for severe violence who did not have a psychotic disorder.
A final group of 196 healthy men with no history of violence or severe mental illness served as a baseline control. The researchers only included male subjects because of the extreme scarcity of eligible women residing within the participating high-security units and prisons.
The researchers took magnetic resonance imaging scans of all the participants’ brains. Magnetic resonance imaging uses strong magnetic fields to create incredibly detailed, three-dimensional images of bodily tissues.
With these high-resolution images, the team measured three specific anatomical features. They looked at cortical thickness, which measures the depth of the brain’s wrinkled outer layer of tissue.
They also measured the total surface area of that outer layer, known as the cerebral cortex. Finally, they calculated the physical volume of deeper, subcortical brain structures beneath the outer surface.
The team then compared these individual structural measurements to a pre-existing normative model built from the brain scans of nearly 59,000 individuals from around the world. This massive reference set allowed them to pinpoint specific regions where a participant’s brain structure was either significantly larger or smaller than expected for their biological age.
The researchers found that the patterns of brain deviation were highly diverse across the participants. No single brain region was uniformly altered across all the individuals with a history of violence and psychosis.
Nearly 90 percent of the participants with both schizophrenia and a violent history had at least one extreme deviation in their brain structure. Overall, the clinical groups had a higher number of extreme negative deviations than the healthy participants did.
A negative deviation means that a specific brain region was unusually small or thin compared to the typical growth chart baseline. The men with both schizophrenia and a violent history showed extreme negative deviations most frequently in the basal temporal-occipital lobes.
The cerebral cortex is folded into a complex series of hills and valleys. A gyrus is one of the raised hills, while a sulcus is a shallow groove or valley dropping between them.
The differences in this violent group were clustered tightly around the collateral transverse sulcus and the lingual gyrus. These specific brain tissues are located near the bottom and back of the brain and are primarily involved in processing visual information.
Visual perception areas help people recognize physical objects and integrate visual memories. Alterations in these visual processing hubs have been linked in past studies to the formation of delusions, which are intensely held false beliefs that do not match reality.
This violent patient group also exhibited extreme negative deviations in the cortex of the cerebellum. The cerebellum is a densely packed structure at the base of the skull originally thought to only control physical movement.
Modern scientific research indicates that the cerebellum is also heavily involved in higher cognitive functions, social cognition, and executive control. Unusual physical variations in the cerebellum have been associated with aggressive behavior in other patient groups.
The pattern of brain differences in the violent schizophrenia group differed quite a bit from the other test cohorts. The men with schizophrenia who had no history of violence showed their most frequent deviations in the parieto-occipital area.
This parieto-occipital region sits higher up in the back of the head. It is known to be involved in spatial navigation and the coordination of hand and eye movements.
In contrast, the men who had committed violent acts but did not suffer from schizophrenia showed entirely different deviations. Their most frequent negative deviations occurred in the middle frontal areas of the brain, a region often associated with emotional regulation and inhibitory control.
The researchers also tested whether anatomical brain structures correlated with standardized measurements of psychopathy. Psychopathy involves a specific cluster of personality traits like a lack of empathy and a tendency toward antisocial behavior.
They found no statistically significant associations between psychopathy scores and the patterns of brain deviation. The data presented an extremely diverse array of anatomical differences that did not tightly map onto psychopathic trait severity.
The study has a few limitations that researchers must address in future investigations. The number of participants with a history of severe violence was relatively small, making it difficult to fully generalize the results to broader clinical populations.
The investigation was also cross-sectional, meaning it only captured a single diagnostic snapshot in time. A cross-sectional design cannot determine if these anatomical brain irregularities were present from early childhood or if they developed much later in life.
It is also difficult to entirely separate the physical effects of schizophrenia from external environmental factors. Cumulative exposure to required antipsychotic medications and past illicit substance use can both alter physical brain structures over time.
Future research should follow individuals longitudinally, tracking structural brain changes across many years. Observing how these deviations shift as people naturally age could clarify how the physical brain responds to psychiatric therapies.
Highlighting individual deviations instead of group averages offers a different way to understand the biological roots of severe mental health conditions. By focusing on personal anatomical differences, researchers hope to eventually provide clinicians with specific physical data that can better guide personalized psychiatric care.
The study, “Individual-level deviations from normative brain morphology in violence, psychosis, and psychopathy,” was authored by Unn K. Haukvik, Thomas Wolfers, Natalia Tesli, Christina Bell, Gabriela Hjell, Thomas Fischer-Vieler, Nina Bang, Ingrid Melle, Ole A. Andreassen, Kirsten Rasmussen, Ingrid Agartz, Lars T. Westlye, Christine Friestad, and Jaroslav Rokicki.
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #Neuroimaging #ViolenceAndPsychosis #NormativeModeling #BrainMorphology #SchizophreniaResearch #ForensicPsychiatry #CerebralCortex #VisualProcessing #PersonalizedPsychiatry #MentalHealthScience
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DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:41AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHIATIRY FEEDTITLE: Scientists find hidden brain nutrient deficit that may fuel anxiety
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
A major analysis of brain scans found that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline, a nutrient crucial for healthy brain function. The strongest evidence appeared in the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to emotional control and decision-making. Researchers say the discovery is the first clear chemical brain pattern linked to anxiety and could eventually lead to new nutrition-based treatments.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
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DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
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NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AnxietyBrainNutrition #CholineDeficiency #BrainHealth #PrefrontalCortex #NutritionalPsychology #AnxietyResearch #MentalHealthScience #BrainChemistry #NutritionBasedTreatment #HealthyBrainFocus
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DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:41AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHIATIRY FEEDTITLE: Scientists find hidden brain nutrient deficit that may fuel anxiety
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
A major analysis of brain scans found that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline, a nutrient crucial for healthy brain function. The strongest evidence appeared in the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to emotional control and decision-making. Researchers say the discovery is the first clear chemical brain pattern linked to anxiety and could eventually lead to new nutrition-based treatments.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AnxietyBrainNutrition #CholineDeficiency #BrainHealth #PrefrontalCortex #NutritionalPsychology #AnxietyResearch #MentalHealthScience #BrainChemistry #NutritionBasedTreatment #HealthyBrainFocus
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DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:41AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHIATIRY FEEDTITLE: Scientists find hidden brain nutrient deficit that may fuel anxiety
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
A major analysis of brain scans found that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline, a nutrient crucial for healthy brain function. The strongest evidence appeared in the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to emotional control and decision-making. Researchers say the discovery is the first clear chemical brain pattern linked to anxiety and could eventually lead to new nutrition-based treatments.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AnxietyBrainNutrition #CholineDeficiency #BrainHealth #PrefrontalCortex #NutritionalPsychology #AnxietyResearch #MentalHealthScience #BrainChemistry #NutritionBasedTreatment #HealthyBrainFocus
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DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:41AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHIATIRY FEEDTITLE: Scientists find hidden brain nutrient deficit that may fuel anxiety
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
A major analysis of brain scans found that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline, a nutrient crucial for healthy brain function. The strongest evidence appeared in the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to emotional control and decision-making. Researchers say the discovery is the first clear chemical brain pattern linked to anxiety and could eventually lead to new nutrition-based treatments.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AnxietyBrainNutrition #CholineDeficiency #BrainHealth #PrefrontalCortex #NutritionalPsychology #AnxietyResearch #MentalHealthScience #BrainChemistry #NutritionBasedTreatment #HealthyBrainFocus
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DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:41AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEEDTITLE: Scientists find hidden brain nutrient deficit that may fuel anxiety
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
A major analysis of brain scans found that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline, a nutrient crucial for healthy brain function. The strongest evidence appeared in the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to emotional control and decision-making. Researchers say the discovery is the first clear chemical brain pattern linked to anxiety and could eventually lead to new nutrition-based treatments.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AnxietyNutrition #BrainHealth #Choline #PrefrontalCortex #MentalHealthScience #NutritionAndMood #BrainChemistry #AnxietyResearch #MentalWellness #NeuroscienceNews
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DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:41AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEEDTITLE: Scientists find hidden brain nutrient deficit that may fuel anxiety
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
A major analysis of brain scans found that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline, a nutrient crucial for healthy brain function. The strongest evidence appeared in the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to emotional control and decision-making. Researchers say the discovery is the first clear chemical brain pattern linked to anxiety and could eventually lead to new nutrition-based treatments.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AnxietyNutrition #BrainHealth #Choline #PrefrontalCortex #MentalHealthScience #NutritionAndMood #BrainChemistry #AnxietyResearch #MentalWellness #NeuroscienceNews
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DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:41AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEEDTITLE: Scientists find hidden brain nutrient deficit that may fuel anxiety
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
A major analysis of brain scans found that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline, a nutrient crucial for healthy brain function. The strongest evidence appeared in the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to emotional control and decision-making. Researchers say the discovery is the first clear chemical brain pattern linked to anxiety and could eventually lead to new nutrition-based treatments.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AnxietyNutrition #BrainHealth #Choline #PrefrontalCortex #MentalHealthScience #NutritionAndMood #BrainChemistry #AnxietyResearch #MentalWellness #NeuroscienceNews
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DATE: May 15, 2026 at 07:11AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEEDTITLE: The brain’s “feel good” chemical may be secretly fueling tinnitus
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515002155.htm
Scientists have uncovered evidence that serotonin — the same brain chemical boosted by many antidepressants — may actually worsen tinnitus. Using advanced light-based brain stimulation in mice, researchers identified a serotonin-driven circuit linked directly to tinnitus-like behavior. The findings may explain why some people experience louder ringing in their ears while taking SSRIs.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515002155.htm
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #TinnitusResearch #SerotoninScience #BrainChemistry #SSRIs #TinnitusAwareness #Neuroscience #LightBasedTherapy #HearingHealth #BrainStimulation #MentalHealthScience
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DATE: May 15, 2026 at 07:11AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEEDTITLE: The brain’s “feel good” chemical may be secretly fueling tinnitus
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515002155.htm
Scientists have uncovered evidence that serotonin — the same brain chemical boosted by many antidepressants — may actually worsen tinnitus. Using advanced light-based brain stimulation in mice, researchers identified a serotonin-driven circuit linked directly to tinnitus-like behavior. The findings may explain why some people experience louder ringing in their ears while taking SSRIs.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515002155.htm
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #TinnitusResearch #SerotoninScience #BrainChemistry #SSRIs #TinnitusAwareness #Neuroscience #LightBasedTherapy #HearingHealth #BrainStimulation #MentalHealthScience
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DATE: May 15, 2026 at 07:11AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEEDTITLE: The brain’s “feel good” chemical may be secretly fueling tinnitus
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515002155.htm
Scientists have uncovered evidence that serotonin — the same brain chemical boosted by many antidepressants — may actually worsen tinnitus. Using advanced light-based brain stimulation in mice, researchers identified a serotonin-driven circuit linked directly to tinnitus-like behavior. The findings may explain why some people experience louder ringing in their ears while taking SSRIs.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515002155.htm
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #TinnitusResearch #SerotoninScience #BrainChemistry #SSRIs #TinnitusAwareness #Neuroscience #LightBasedTherapy #HearingHealth #BrainStimulation #MentalHealthScience
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DATE: May 13, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Brain scans identify the neural network that traps anxious people in cycles of self-blame
New research published in Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry suggests that people with higher levels of everyday anxiety tend to experience more intense self-blaming emotions, along with specific changes in how their brain networks communicate. The findings provide evidence that this heightened self-blame is accompanied by unhelpful behaviors like hiding or self-attacking. These patterns could help explain the social difficulties often faced by anxious individuals in their daily lives.
The researchers conducted this study to better understand how self-blaming emotions operate in people who experience anxiety, even if they do not have a formal psychiatric diagnosis. Emotions like guilt and shame can be adaptive when they prompt someone to make amends for a mistake. They tend to become harmful when they lead to social withdrawal and constant self-criticism.
“People with elevated levels of anxiety quite often experience hardships in their social environments,” said study author Michal Rafal Zareba, a researcher at the Department of Basic and Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology at Universitat Jaume I in Castellon de la Plana, Spain. “For instance, they excessively blame themselves for the negative things that happen to themselves but also to others in their close environment.”
Zareba noted that previous research has explored the brain networks involved in these negative feelings, particularly in people with severe, diagnosed depression. “Although we have known for a long time that such behaviors contribute to poorer well-being of anxious individuals, the brain processes that could contribute to this were largely unexplored,” Zareba said. Understanding these mechanisms could inform preventative strategies to help people before their symptoms worsen.
To investigate these connections, the authors designed a multi-part experiment. First, a group of 140 healthy volunteers completed a computer-based assessment called the Moral Sentiment and Action Tendencies task. During this activity, participants read 54 hypothetical scenarios in which they or their best friend behaved in a way that violated social or moral rules.
For each situation, the participants rated how strongly they would blame themselves or their friend on a numerical scale. They also selected the specific emotion they would feel most strongly, choosing from options like guilt, shame, or self-directed anger. Finally, participants indicated what action they would most likely take in that scenario. The choices included hiding, apologizing, physically or verbally attacking themselves, or creating mental distance from themselves.
The data from this behavioral task indicated that increased anxiety was linked to stronger self-blaming emotions across the board. Highly anxious individuals were more likely to report a desire to attack themselves or hide away from others when imagining these scenarios. This occurred regardless of whether the hypothetical bad behavior was committed by themselves or their friend.
“Self-blaming emotions per se are not something bad; they are a signal telling us that we might have done something wrong,” Zareba said. “What contributes to their prominent role in anxiety is the maladaptive way of dealing with them.”
Interestingly, when experiencing negative emotions about themselves, such as shame or self-directed anger, these anxious participants were less likely to mentally step back or disengage from their self-focused thoughts. In psychology, the ability to create mental space from negative feelings is known as self-distancing. “When feeling self-blaming emotions, anxious individuals appear to be distancing themselves from others and engage more in self-oriented thoughts, rather than try to make up for the resulting situations,” Zareba explained.
In the next phase of the study, a subset of 80 participants underwent brain scanning using functional magnetic resonance imaging. This technology allows scientists to measure brain activity by tracking tiny changes in blood flow. Before the scan, participants provided brief, written cues for seven personal memories that made them feel guilty, as well as seven emotionally neutral memories.
Inside the scanner, the volunteers were shown these custom cues and asked to mentally relive the emotions associated with each specific memory for ten seconds. After reliving the memory, they had four seconds to answer a question about the location or social nature of the event. Between recalling these different memories, they completed simple math problems. This math task was designed to help shift their attention outward and reset their emotional state before the next memory cue appeared.
During the recall of guilt-inducing memories, the researchers observed a widespread increase in brain activity across several regions compared to neutral memories. Most notably, they found that individuals with higher anxiety scores displayed enhanced functional connectivity between two specific brain areas. Functional connectivity refers to how well different regions of the brain communicate and synchronize with one another during a task.
The enhanced communication occurred between the left superior anterior temporal lobe and the bilateral subgenual anterior cingulate cortex. The superior anterior temporal lobe is a brain area known to process social knowledge and complex social concepts. The subgenual anterior cingulate cortex is a deeper brain region involved in processing social affiliation and feelings of self-worth.
“The neuroimaging analysis revealed that when feeling self-blaming emotions, anxious individuals have higher levels of communication between brain regions responsible for understanding the meaning of social emotions, such as guilt, and areas involved in self-worth and social affiliation processing,” Zareba said. “This suggests that the self-blaming emotions may more strongly contribute to how anxious individuals feel about themselves but also their sense of belonging to others. Interestingly, similar observations on the self-blaming emotions have been previously made in patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder.”
The researchers also measured how much participants wanted to approach or avoid the people and places associated with their guilt memories. They found that a higher desire to approach the memory was linked to increased activity in the left superior anterior temporal lobe. On the other hand, a stronger desire to avoid the memory was linked to enhanced connectivity between the corresponding region in the right hemisphere and areas of the brain involved in physical embodiment and social feedback.
A separate resting-state brain scan involving 86 participants yielded additional insights. During a resting-state scan, participants simply focus on a crosshair without performing any specific task, allowing scientists to observe baseline brain activity. The researchers found that people who reported stronger self-blaming emotions in the earlier behavioral task exhibited lower baseline activity in the right temporal pole. This specific area at the tip of the temporal lobe connects social processing with emotional cognition.
As an exploratory step, the scientists also compared the brain activity patterns seen during guilt recall with existing, public maps of neurotransmitter systems in the human brain. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that help neurons communicate. The analysis showed that the brain areas activated by guilt heavily overlapped with the distribution of receptors for serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and oxytocin. This hints that these specific chemical systems play a prominent role in shaping how the brain processes strong, negative emotions about the self.
While this research offers detailed insights into the brain mechanics of anxiety and self-blame, the authors note a few limitations to keep in mind. The study focused on healthy volunteers with subclinical anxiety rather than patients formally diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. The observed patterns might differ in individuals with a long-term, clinical history of severe anxiety or depression.
“Our study was performed in a sample of subclinically anxious individuals, and therefore it still remains to be seen whether similar differences in behavior and brain processes are also found in patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders,” said senior author Maya Visser, an associate professor at the Department of Basic and Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology at Universitat Jaume I. “In fact, we are currently waiting for the results of a grant application that we submitted for such a project.”
Because the brain imaging portion contrasted personal guilt memories against neutral memories, the identified neural activity might not be entirely unique to self-blame. The brain networks highlighted in the study could also be active during other intensely negative emotions. Also, the behavioral task was translated into Spanish, and the Spanish word for guilt can also mean self-blame, which limits the ability to separate those two specific concepts lexically.
The researchers suggest that future longitudinal studies should track individuals over time to see if these patterns predict the development of more severe clinical disorders. “If we replicate the findings in a clinical sample, our research, combined with the previous studies in depressive patients, might contribute to the establishment of a transdiagnostic neuroimaging biomarker of self-blaming emotions,” Visser said. “Such a tool could help better understand what happens in the brains of patients in the course of different pharmacological and psychological treatments.”
The study, “Subclinical anxiety is associated with reduced self-distancing and enhanced self-blame-related connectivity between anterior temporal and subgenual cingulate cortices,” was authored by Michal Rafal Zareba, Ivan González-García, Marcos Ibáñez Montolio, Richard J. Binney, Paul Hoffman, and Maya Visser.
-------------------------------------------------
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-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #SelfBlame #AnxietyResearch #BrainConnectivity #MoralEmotion #SelfDistancing #TemporalPole #SubgenualCingulate #SocialEmotions #Neuroimaging #MentalHealthScience
-
DATE: May 13, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Brain scans identify the neural network that traps anxious people in cycles of self-blame
New research published in Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry suggests that people with higher levels of everyday anxiety tend to experience more intense self-blaming emotions, along with specific changes in how their brain networks communicate. The findings provide evidence that this heightened self-blame is accompanied by unhelpful behaviors like hiding or self-attacking. These patterns could help explain the social difficulties often faced by anxious individuals in their daily lives.
The researchers conducted this study to better understand how self-blaming emotions operate in people who experience anxiety, even if they do not have a formal psychiatric diagnosis. Emotions like guilt and shame can be adaptive when they prompt someone to make amends for a mistake. They tend to become harmful when they lead to social withdrawal and constant self-criticism.
“People with elevated levels of anxiety quite often experience hardships in their social environments,” said study author Michal Rafal Zareba, a researcher at the Department of Basic and Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology at Universitat Jaume I in Castellon de la Plana, Spain. “For instance, they excessively blame themselves for the negative things that happen to themselves but also to others in their close environment.”
Zareba noted that previous research has explored the brain networks involved in these negative feelings, particularly in people with severe, diagnosed depression. “Although we have known for a long time that such behaviors contribute to poorer well-being of anxious individuals, the brain processes that could contribute to this were largely unexplored,” Zareba said. Understanding these mechanisms could inform preventative strategies to help people before their symptoms worsen.
To investigate these connections, the authors designed a multi-part experiment. First, a group of 140 healthy volunteers completed a computer-based assessment called the Moral Sentiment and Action Tendencies task. During this activity, participants read 54 hypothetical scenarios in which they or their best friend behaved in a way that violated social or moral rules.
For each situation, the participants rated how strongly they would blame themselves or their friend on a numerical scale. They also selected the specific emotion they would feel most strongly, choosing from options like guilt, shame, or self-directed anger. Finally, participants indicated what action they would most likely take in that scenario. The choices included hiding, apologizing, physically or verbally attacking themselves, or creating mental distance from themselves.
The data from this behavioral task indicated that increased anxiety was linked to stronger self-blaming emotions across the board. Highly anxious individuals were more likely to report a desire to attack themselves or hide away from others when imagining these scenarios. This occurred regardless of whether the hypothetical bad behavior was committed by themselves or their friend.
“Self-blaming emotions per se are not something bad; they are a signal telling us that we might have done something wrong,” Zareba said. “What contributes to their prominent role in anxiety is the maladaptive way of dealing with them.”
Interestingly, when experiencing negative emotions about themselves, such as shame or self-directed anger, these anxious participants were less likely to mentally step back or disengage from their self-focused thoughts. In psychology, the ability to create mental space from negative feelings is known as self-distancing. “When feeling self-blaming emotions, anxious individuals appear to be distancing themselves from others and engage more in self-oriented thoughts, rather than try to make up for the resulting situations,” Zareba explained.
In the next phase of the study, a subset of 80 participants underwent brain scanning using functional magnetic resonance imaging. This technology allows scientists to measure brain activity by tracking tiny changes in blood flow. Before the scan, participants provided brief, written cues for seven personal memories that made them feel guilty, as well as seven emotionally neutral memories.
Inside the scanner, the volunteers were shown these custom cues and asked to mentally relive the emotions associated with each specific memory for ten seconds. After reliving the memory, they had four seconds to answer a question about the location or social nature of the event. Between recalling these different memories, they completed simple math problems. This math task was designed to help shift their attention outward and reset their emotional state before the next memory cue appeared.
During the recall of guilt-inducing memories, the researchers observed a widespread increase in brain activity across several regions compared to neutral memories. Most notably, they found that individuals with higher anxiety scores displayed enhanced functional connectivity between two specific brain areas. Functional connectivity refers to how well different regions of the brain communicate and synchronize with one another during a task.
The enhanced communication occurred between the left superior anterior temporal lobe and the bilateral subgenual anterior cingulate cortex. The superior anterior temporal lobe is a brain area known to process social knowledge and complex social concepts. The subgenual anterior cingulate cortex is a deeper brain region involved in processing social affiliation and feelings of self-worth.
“The neuroimaging analysis revealed that when feeling self-blaming emotions, anxious individuals have higher levels of communication between brain regions responsible for understanding the meaning of social emotions, such as guilt, and areas involved in self-worth and social affiliation processing,” Zareba said. “This suggests that the self-blaming emotions may more strongly contribute to how anxious individuals feel about themselves but also their sense of belonging to others. Interestingly, similar observations on the self-blaming emotions have been previously made in patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder.”
The researchers also measured how much participants wanted to approach or avoid the people and places associated with their guilt memories. They found that a higher desire to approach the memory was linked to increased activity in the left superior anterior temporal lobe. On the other hand, a stronger desire to avoid the memory was linked to enhanced connectivity between the corresponding region in the right hemisphere and areas of the brain involved in physical embodiment and social feedback.
A separate resting-state brain scan involving 86 participants yielded additional insights. During a resting-state scan, participants simply focus on a crosshair without performing any specific task, allowing scientists to observe baseline brain activity. The researchers found that people who reported stronger self-blaming emotions in the earlier behavioral task exhibited lower baseline activity in the right temporal pole. This specific area at the tip of the temporal lobe connects social processing with emotional cognition.
As an exploratory step, the scientists also compared the brain activity patterns seen during guilt recall with existing, public maps of neurotransmitter systems in the human brain. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that help neurons communicate. The analysis showed that the brain areas activated by guilt heavily overlapped with the distribution of receptors for serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and oxytocin. This hints that these specific chemical systems play a prominent role in shaping how the brain processes strong, negative emotions about the self.
While this research offers detailed insights into the brain mechanics of anxiety and self-blame, the authors note a few limitations to keep in mind. The study focused on healthy volunteers with subclinical anxiety rather than patients formally diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. The observed patterns might differ in individuals with a long-term, clinical history of severe anxiety or depression.
“Our study was performed in a sample of subclinically anxious individuals, and therefore it still remains to be seen whether similar differences in behavior and brain processes are also found in patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders,” said senior author Maya Visser, an associate professor at the Department of Basic and Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology at Universitat Jaume I. “In fact, we are currently waiting for the results of a grant application that we submitted for such a project.”
Because the brain imaging portion contrasted personal guilt memories against neutral memories, the identified neural activity might not be entirely unique to self-blame. The brain networks highlighted in the study could also be active during other intensely negative emotions. Also, the behavioral task was translated into Spanish, and the Spanish word for guilt can also mean self-blame, which limits the ability to separate those two specific concepts lexically.
The researchers suggest that future longitudinal studies should track individuals over time to see if these patterns predict the development of more severe clinical disorders. “If we replicate the findings in a clinical sample, our research, combined with the previous studies in depressive patients, might contribute to the establishment of a transdiagnostic neuroimaging biomarker of self-blaming emotions,” Visser said. “Such a tool could help better understand what happens in the brains of patients in the course of different pharmacological and psychological treatments.”
The study, “Subclinical anxiety is associated with reduced self-distancing and enhanced self-blame-related connectivity between anterior temporal and subgenual cingulate cortices,” was authored by Michal Rafal Zareba, Ivan González-García, Marcos Ibáñez Montolio, Richard J. Binney, Paul Hoffman, and Maya Visser.
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
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Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #SelfBlame #AnxietyResearch #BrainConnectivity #MoralEmotion #SelfDistancing #TemporalPole #SubgenualCingulate #SocialEmotions #Neuroimaging #MentalHealthScience
-
DATE: May 13, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Brain scans identify the neural network that traps anxious people in cycles of self-blame
New research published in Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry suggests that people with higher levels of everyday anxiety tend to experience more intense self-blaming emotions, along with specific changes in how their brain networks communicate. The findings provide evidence that this heightened self-blame is accompanied by unhelpful behaviors like hiding or self-attacking. These patterns could help explain the social difficulties often faced by anxious individuals in their daily lives.
The researchers conducted this study to better understand how self-blaming emotions operate in people who experience anxiety, even if they do not have a formal psychiatric diagnosis. Emotions like guilt and shame can be adaptive when they prompt someone to make amends for a mistake. They tend to become harmful when they lead to social withdrawal and constant self-criticism.
“People with elevated levels of anxiety quite often experience hardships in their social environments,” said study author Michal Rafal Zareba, a researcher at the Department of Basic and Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology at Universitat Jaume I in Castellon de la Plana, Spain. “For instance, they excessively blame themselves for the negative things that happen to themselves but also to others in their close environment.”
Zareba noted that previous research has explored the brain networks involved in these negative feelings, particularly in people with severe, diagnosed depression. “Although we have known for a long time that such behaviors contribute to poorer well-being of anxious individuals, the brain processes that could contribute to this were largely unexplored,” Zareba said. Understanding these mechanisms could inform preventative strategies to help people before their symptoms worsen.
To investigate these connections, the authors designed a multi-part experiment. First, a group of 140 healthy volunteers completed a computer-based assessment called the Moral Sentiment and Action Tendencies task. During this activity, participants read 54 hypothetical scenarios in which they or their best friend behaved in a way that violated social or moral rules.
For each situation, the participants rated how strongly they would blame themselves or their friend on a numerical scale. They also selected the specific emotion they would feel most strongly, choosing from options like guilt, shame, or self-directed anger. Finally, participants indicated what action they would most likely take in that scenario. The choices included hiding, apologizing, physically or verbally attacking themselves, or creating mental distance from themselves.
The data from this behavioral task indicated that increased anxiety was linked to stronger self-blaming emotions across the board. Highly anxious individuals were more likely to report a desire to attack themselves or hide away from others when imagining these scenarios. This occurred regardless of whether the hypothetical bad behavior was committed by themselves or their friend.
“Self-blaming emotions per se are not something bad; they are a signal telling us that we might have done something wrong,” Zareba said. “What contributes to their prominent role in anxiety is the maladaptive way of dealing with them.”
Interestingly, when experiencing negative emotions about themselves, such as shame or self-directed anger, these anxious participants were less likely to mentally step back or disengage from their self-focused thoughts. In psychology, the ability to create mental space from negative feelings is known as self-distancing. “When feeling self-blaming emotions, anxious individuals appear to be distancing themselves from others and engage more in self-oriented thoughts, rather than try to make up for the resulting situations,” Zareba explained.
In the next phase of the study, a subset of 80 participants underwent brain scanning using functional magnetic resonance imaging. This technology allows scientists to measure brain activity by tracking tiny changes in blood flow. Before the scan, participants provided brief, written cues for seven personal memories that made them feel guilty, as well as seven emotionally neutral memories.
Inside the scanner, the volunteers were shown these custom cues and asked to mentally relive the emotions associated with each specific memory for ten seconds. After reliving the memory, they had four seconds to answer a question about the location or social nature of the event. Between recalling these different memories, they completed simple math problems. This math task was designed to help shift their attention outward and reset their emotional state before the next memory cue appeared.
During the recall of guilt-inducing memories, the researchers observed a widespread increase in brain activity across several regions compared to neutral memories. Most notably, they found that individuals with higher anxiety scores displayed enhanced functional connectivity between two specific brain areas. Functional connectivity refers to how well different regions of the brain communicate and synchronize with one another during a task.
The enhanced communication occurred between the left superior anterior temporal lobe and the bilateral subgenual anterior cingulate cortex. The superior anterior temporal lobe is a brain area known to process social knowledge and complex social concepts. The subgenual anterior cingulate cortex is a deeper brain region involved in processing social affiliation and feelings of self-worth.
“The neuroimaging analysis revealed that when feeling self-blaming emotions, anxious individuals have higher levels of communication between brain regions responsible for understanding the meaning of social emotions, such as guilt, and areas involved in self-worth and social affiliation processing,” Zareba said. “This suggests that the self-blaming emotions may more strongly contribute to how anxious individuals feel about themselves but also their sense of belonging to others. Interestingly, similar observations on the self-blaming emotions have been previously made in patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder.”
The researchers also measured how much participants wanted to approach or avoid the people and places associated with their guilt memories. They found that a higher desire to approach the memory was linked to increased activity in the left superior anterior temporal lobe. On the other hand, a stronger desire to avoid the memory was linked to enhanced connectivity between the corresponding region in the right hemisphere and areas of the brain involved in physical embodiment and social feedback.
A separate resting-state brain scan involving 86 participants yielded additional insights. During a resting-state scan, participants simply focus on a crosshair without performing any specific task, allowing scientists to observe baseline brain activity. The researchers found that people who reported stronger self-blaming emotions in the earlier behavioral task exhibited lower baseline activity in the right temporal pole. This specific area at the tip of the temporal lobe connects social processing with emotional cognition.
As an exploratory step, the scientists also compared the brain activity patterns seen during guilt recall with existing, public maps of neurotransmitter systems in the human brain. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that help neurons communicate. The analysis showed that the brain areas activated by guilt heavily overlapped with the distribution of receptors for serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and oxytocin. This hints that these specific chemical systems play a prominent role in shaping how the brain processes strong, negative emotions about the self.
While this research offers detailed insights into the brain mechanics of anxiety and self-blame, the authors note a few limitations to keep in mind. The study focused on healthy volunteers with subclinical anxiety rather than patients formally diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. The observed patterns might differ in individuals with a long-term, clinical history of severe anxiety or depression.
“Our study was performed in a sample of subclinically anxious individuals, and therefore it still remains to be seen whether similar differences in behavior and brain processes are also found in patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders,” said senior author Maya Visser, an associate professor at the Department of Basic and Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology at Universitat Jaume I. “In fact, we are currently waiting for the results of a grant application that we submitted for such a project.”
Because the brain imaging portion contrasted personal guilt memories against neutral memories, the identified neural activity might not be entirely unique to self-blame. The brain networks highlighted in the study could also be active during other intensely negative emotions. Also, the behavioral task was translated into Spanish, and the Spanish word for guilt can also mean self-blame, which limits the ability to separate those two specific concepts lexically.
The researchers suggest that future longitudinal studies should track individuals over time to see if these patterns predict the development of more severe clinical disorders. “If we replicate the findings in a clinical sample, our research, combined with the previous studies in depressive patients, might contribute to the establishment of a transdiagnostic neuroimaging biomarker of self-blaming emotions,” Visser said. “Such a tool could help better understand what happens in the brains of patients in the course of different pharmacological and psychological treatments.”
The study, “Subclinical anxiety is associated with reduced self-distancing and enhanced self-blame-related connectivity between anterior temporal and subgenual cingulate cortices,” was authored by Michal Rafal Zareba, Ivan González-García, Marcos Ibáñez Montolio, Richard J. Binney, Paul Hoffman, and Maya Visser.
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #SelfBlame #AnxietyResearch #BrainConnectivity #MoralEmotion #SelfDistancing #TemporalPole #SubgenualCingulate #SocialEmotions #Neuroimaging #MentalHealthScience
-
Inside the Stress Cascade: From Cortisol to Cytokines
#Neuroscience #StressScience #HPAaxis #Neurogenesis #Neuroplasticity #Glia #MentalHealthScience #BDNF #AllostaticLoad #BrainHealth
-
Inside the Stress Cascade: From Cortisol to Cytokines
#Neuroscience #StressScience #HPAaxis #Neurogenesis #Neuroplasticity #Glia #MentalHealthScience #BDNF #AllostaticLoad #BrainHealth
-
Inside the Stress Cascade: From Cortisol to Cytokines
#Neuroscience #StressScience #HPAaxis #Neurogenesis #Neuroplasticity #Glia #MentalHealthScience #BDNF #AllostaticLoad #BrainHealth
-
Inside the Stress Cascade: From Cortisol to Cytokines
#Neuroscience #StressScience #HPAaxis #Neurogenesis #Neuroplasticity #Glia #MentalHealthScience #BDNF #AllostaticLoad #BrainHealth
-
Inside the Stress Cascade: From Cortisol to Cytokines
#Neuroscience #StressScience #HPAaxis #Neurogenesis #Neuroplasticity #Glia #MentalHealthScience #BDNF #AllostaticLoad #BrainHealth
-
Inside the Brain: The Role of Dopamine Receptors and Transporters in Mental Disorders
#BrainChemistry #Neurotransmitters #MentalHealthScience #Dopamine #Serotonin #NeuroPathways #BrainImaging #MentalHealthAwareness #Neuroscience #Psychiatry
-
Inside the Brain: The Role of Dopamine Receptors and Transporters in Mental Disorders
#BrainChemistry #Neurotransmitters #MentalHealthScience #Dopamine #Serotonin #NeuroPathways #BrainImaging #MentalHealthAwareness #Neuroscience #Psychiatry