Brain neural circuits involved in mood regulation

The term "brain neural circuits involved in mood regulation" refers to interconnected networks of neurons spanning multiple brain regions that collectively govern emotional states and mood. These include subcortical structures such as the hypothalamus, amygdala, nucleus accumbens (NAc), cortical areas like the insular cortex, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), medial prefrontal cortex (mPPC), and brainstem regions including the periaqueductal gray (PAG). These regions interact through hierarchical and parallel processing streams with extensive feedback loops. Neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine play key roles in modulating activity within these networks. Dysfunction or imbalance in these neural pathways is implicated in various psychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety disorders, addiction, and schizophrenia. While many therapeutic drugs act on molecular targets within these pathways—such as receptors for serotonin or dopamine—the "neural circuit" itself is not a discrete molecular target but rather an emergent property of coordinated neuronal activity across multiple anatomical sites[1][2][3].

Other names

Mood-regulating brain circuitsNeural circuits of emotionEmotion-related neural pathwaysCircuits underlying mood regulation