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A recent study from the Hospital del Mar Research Institute has made a landmark contribution to understanding how decision-making works in the brain by establishing connections between various stimuli. Published in the journal PNAS, this work highlights the importance of the amygdala, a crucial brain region involved in emotional responses and mental disorders such as psychosis and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Under the direction of Dr. Arnau Busquets and with the participation of doctoral student José Antonio González Parra, the research was conducted through experiments with mice. The scientists observed how these animals learned to associate smells with tastes. In an experimental design, the mice were taught to link the smell of a banana with a sweet taste, and then the smell of almond with a salty taste. When the smell of the banana was associated with a negative stimulus, the mice began to avoid the sweet taste, demonstrating an indirect relationship between the two perceptions.
The researchers utilized genetic and imaging techniques to verify that the amygdala was activated during this associative process. Moreover, it was discovered that other areas of the cerebral cortex interacted with the amygdala, leading to the finding of a specific brain circuit that regulates indirect associations.
Dr. Busquets emphasizes that the decision-making mechanisms in humans may be similar to those observed in mice. This discovery is highly relevant and could open new avenues for treating mental disorders linked to amygdala activity. The research suggests that alterations in these indirect associations may be crucial for understanding various mental pathologies.
Looking ahead, the researchers believe that brain stimulation or modulation of activity in these areas could become viable therapeutic approaches for those suffering from post-traumatic stress or psychotic symptoms. With this advance, the understanding of complex cognitive processes is significantly progressing, promising to have a substantial impact on mental health well-being.
Source: MiMub in Spanish
