5 Lessons I Learned from Cafe Scientifique Talk on The Science of Moods

Café Scientifique in partnership with The Mind Museum, regularly conducts talks about science and technology in an informal setting. Last July 30, I listened to the talk of guest scientist Dr. Ruby Manalastas, director of the Mood Clinic in St. Luke’s Medical Center about “The Science of Moods” held in Mercato Centrale. 

Here are the 5 Lessons I Learned from Cafe Scientifique Talk on The Science of Moods:

1. The brain is driving our emotions and not the heart (Myth). 

2. Depression is affected by the health of the nerve cells in the brain. 

 

Amygdala: Limbic System
– Associated with emotions such as anger, pleasure, sorrow, fear, and sexual arousal.
– Activated when a person recalls emotionally charged memories, such as a frightening situation; increased when a person is sad or clinically depressed.

Thalamus:
– high-level functions such as speech, behavioral reactions, movement, thinking, and learning.
– Some research suggests that bipolar disorder may result from problems in the thalamus, which helps link sensory input to pleasant and unpleasant feelings.

Hippocampus: limbic system 
– central role in memory and recollection. part of the brain that registers fear when you are confronted by a barking, aggressive dog, and the memory of such an experience may make you wary of dogs you come across later in life.
– Smaller in some depressed people, and research suggests that ongoing exposure to stress hormone impairs the growth of nerve cells in this part of the brain.Understanding Depression, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.) 

 

3. Is your work stressful?

Depression is triggered most of the time by nothing – it comes spontaneously.  

Among the 21 major occupational categories, the highest rates of past year major depressive episodes (MDE) among full-time workers aged 18 to 64 were found in the
• personal care and service occupations (10.8 percent)
• Food preparation and serving related occupations (10.3 percent) (see Figure above).

Source: Depression Study by Office of Applied Studies of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Sercies Administration (SAMHSA). 

(Hmm…that’s probably the reason why at times we are stressed at Mercato Centrale 🙂

 

4. Are you depressed?

Below is a quick test to know if you are normal or if you need further evaluation by a specialist:  

So, what’s your score?

5. How do you make depression go away?

SOLUTION: You can deal with stressors,  change your lifestyle or go on medication.  

(For me, I handle stress by eating and hunting interesting places to dine with my family 🙂

Thanks to Dr. Manalastas for sharing her expertise on emotions, depression, and mood disorders!

Here is a short information about Dr. Manalastas:

Ruby Manalastas, MD
Assistant Professor, 
Past Chairman, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science,
St. Luke’s College of Medicine

Institute of Neuro Sciences
Director, Mood Clinic, Section of Psychiatry
St. Luke’s Medical Center, Quezon City

Head, Section of Psychiatry 
St. Luke’s Medical Center, Fort Bonifacio

Consultant
Comprehensive Sleep Disorder Center
St. Luke’s Medical Center

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Full Disclosure: Our Awesome Planet supports The Mind Museum @ BGC. All the information and photos in this blog post are taken from Dr. Ruby Manalastas presentation.

P.S. Help Build the Mind Museum by sponsoring an Element (from the Periodic Table),  a Galaxy or a Star in The Mind Museum at Taguig Virtual Exhibit.