Antidepressants and Brain Structure

ScienceDaily reports on new research that Antidepressants Need New Nerve Cells To Be Effective. The study by researchers from UT Southwestern Medical Center showed that the effectiveness of anti-depressants in mice depended upon the growth of new nerves in the part of the brain called the dentate gyrus.

What does this tell us about exercise and brain exercise?

The dentate gyrus is one of the few areas of the brain thought to be able to generate significant numbers of new brain cells in a process known as neurogenesis, and scientists generally believe that this effect is enhanced by aerobic exercise. Apart from being associated with depression, it is also the region of the brain associated with memory formation.

Now, what does any of this have to do with brain exercise and working-memory training?

Well, it turns out that stimulation of working-memory also activates the dentate gyrus.  So, this would perhaps explain why those training with Brain Fitness Pro report greater levels of satisfaction and well-being. Another great reason to be brain-training.

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