Posted by SLS on July 17, 2013, at 11:12:49
In reply to Re: ON Images read full page. Amen No Scientic Evi, posted by Dinah on July 17, 2013, at 8:47:14
Excellent logic.
The chicken or the egg conundrum.
I don't have enough facts to offer a compelling explanation.
In the past, it has been very difficult to tease out any differences that might exist among subtypes of depression. It still is.
I find it hard to believe that there would be no differences in brain activity in someone with bipolar depression as compared to someone who is bereaved or heartbroken, even though there might be some overlap in affected brain regions. It is not so important to identify the common areas of involvement as it is to identify those that are different.
Ruminations of any origin seem to involve increased activity in the orbitofrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex areas of the brain. I imagine a ruminative thought style can be learned and thereby recruit these areas for increased activity. To me, it is conceivable that someone with a biological brain disorder that presents as obsessive and ruminative thought patterns demonstrates on a PET scan the involvement of the raphe nuclei in addition to the cortical structures. Focal brain lesions can result in OCD. In this case, ruminative though styles are acquired through injury, and not learned. Obviously, this is a biological OCD. Where lies the first domino in these different scenarios?
Interesting discussion.
- ScottSome see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1047108
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20130706/msgs/1047360.html