In the article, “Altered Brain Activation during Emotional Face Processing in Relation to Both Diagnosis and Polygenic Risk of Bipolar Disorder,” the purpose of the study was to examine possible influences of Bipolar Disorder and polygenic risk on activation of the brain. To begin with, Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a mood disorder that alternates between depression and mania. Mania is the state of extremely excited and joyful or extremely anxious and sad. The moods are extreme. The cause of the disorder can be from the imbalances on neurotransmitters in the person’s body. The person may have imbalances of serotonin and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters are often effect the person’s mood. This disorder is also hereditary and has polygenic
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The amygdala is one of areas which processes memory, emotion, and involved in sexual behavior. Individuals with BD often have a smaller amygdala than individuals who do not have the disorder. The hippocampus is responsible for memory, motivation, and emotion. This structure is affected because it does not have as many neurons as people without BD.The prefrontal cortex controls voluntary behavior. It also helps with solving problems and express emotions. In this part of the brain, there is not as much activity when the person is depressed. The thalamus sends sensory information to the cerebral cortex. This is also involved in problem solving and thinking. The basal ganglia organize motor behaviors and the occipital lobe receives and sends visual messages. People with Bipolar Disorder often have a hard time reading, writing, and completing motor skills such as gluing or cutting. Last, the hypothalamus can also be affected because there are more neuropeptides in this structure. The size of the cerebellum (responsible for balance and cognitive functions) is also smaller. According to the article, the researchers state, “The main effects of negative faces, positive faces, and faces in general compared to shapes across groups, all revealed strong and overlapping effects in regions comprising the amygdala, hippocampus, occipital cortex, middle frontal gyrus, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and right precentral gyrus,” (Tesli 11).
The amygdala is one of areas which processes memory, emotion, and involved in sexual behavior. Individuals with BD often have a smaller amygdala than individuals who do not have the disorder. The hippocampus is responsible for memory, motivation, and emotion. This structure is affected because it does not have as many neurons as people without BD.The prefrontal cortex controls voluntary behavior. It also helps with solving problems and express emotions. In this part of the brain, there is not as much activity when the person is depressed. The thalamus sends sensory information to the cerebral cortex. This is also involved in problem solving and thinking. The basal ganglia organize motor behaviors and the occipital lobe receives and sends visual messages. People with Bipolar Disorder often have a hard time reading, writing, and completing motor skills such as gluing or cutting. Last, the hypothalamus can also be affected because there are more neuropeptides in this structure. The size of the cerebellum (responsible for balance and cognitive functions) is also smaller. According to the article, the researchers state, “The main effects of negative faces, positive faces, and faces in general compared to shapes across groups, all revealed strong and overlapping effects in regions comprising the amygdala, hippocampus, occipital cortex, middle frontal gyrus, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and right precentral gyrus,” (Tesli 11).