These areas are also part of the limbic system, but are specifically involved in mood regulation, part of the brain’s greater emotional processing duties.ĭepression, for example, is a mental health disorder where a person experiences a persistent dampening in mood, or persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness. But scientists are also learning that genetics, medications, medical issues, and other factors can alter neurotransmission in areas of the brain linked to mood, like the hippocampus, thalamus, and amygdala. Sometimes this persistent change in your general emotional disposition can be due to what’s going on in your life at the time. Some conditions that are listed under the umbrella of “mood-based disorders,” per the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), include depression and bipolar disorder. As you can imagine, problem moods can range widely, from low energy to too much energy, from mildly harmful to daily life to incapacitating. But if your mood, particularly if it’s a negative mood, starts to get in the way of your work and family life, then it can become a problem doctors call a mood disorder. It’s quite common for your mood to shift over time, much as your emotions do, but they tend to do so in a slower fashion. How is mood related to depression? What about other psychiatric or neurological disorders? Many studies have shown that your mood can influence perception, motivation, decision-making, social interactions, and even more basic cognitive processes like memory and attention. And while moods may not be as strong as some feelings, they do have power. While emotions tend to be linked to a particular person or event, moods may not be connected to any obvious cause. Moods tend to echo particular emotions, like happiness or sadness, but they are usually less intense and more persistent-a state of mind that lasts for an extended period of time. The American Psychological Association (APA) defines mood as “a disposition to respond emotionally in a particular way that may last for hours, days, or even weeks, perhaps at a low level and without the person knowing what prompted the state.” Emotions tend to be intense, depending on the situation you find yourself in and, for the most part, last only a short time, soon to be replaced by the next feeling you need to help you navigate the world around you. This system helps us to seek out the things we both want and need, protect ourselves from harm, and socially connect with others. Brain regions including the amygdala, the insula, and the periaqueductal gray – just to name a few – are part of the brain’s limbic or emotion system, and are responsible for summoning these feelings. Those feelings we experience are emotions. The brain is responsible for thoughts, feelings, and actions. We even listen to “mood music!” So, what is mood, exactly? And what does it have to do with the brain? What is mood, exactly? We often talk about “mood swings” or “mood altering” experiences, and some people even call one another “moody.” When we are frustrated or fed up with a particular situation, we are “in no mood” to deal with it. You find yourself in a “good mood” after time with friends or loved ones. You may wake up in a “bad mood” when you haven’t slept well. Mood is a word people use to mean a lot of things.
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