Brain networks associated with mood regulation

Brain networks associated with mood regulation represent a complex system of integrated neural circuits responsible for the generation, processing, and modulation of emotional states. These networks primarily involve the cortico-limbic circuit, including key nodes such as the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, and anterior cingulate cortex, which coordinate to balance bottom-up emotional triggers with top-down cognitive control [8, 11]. Dysregulation within these networks—characterized by aberrant functional connectivity or impaired neuroplasticity—is a central feature of psychiatric disorders like major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder [3, 7]. Pharmacological treatments, such as SSRIs and ketamine, work by modulating neurotransmitter systems (serotonin, glutamate) to restore healthy network dynamics and promote synaptic growth [15, 19]. Additionally, these networks serve as direct targets for neuromodulation therapies like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), which aim to recalibrate electrical activity in specific cortical regions to alleviate mood symptoms [6, 10]. Understanding these systems is vital for the development of precision medicine approaches that target the specific neural substrates of emotional dysfunction.

Other names

Mood-regulating circuitCortico-limbic networkAffective networkEmotional processing circuitCortico-limbic-striatal circuit

Drugs modulate neurotransmitter signaling (e.g., serotonin, glutamate) and activate intracellular pathways (e.g., mTOR, BDNF) to enhance synaptic plasticity and normalize functional connectivity between cortical and limbic regions [3, 15].