Posted by Hombre on June 24, 2011, at 5:32:38
In reply to Ketamine mechanism: Rapid AD response., posted by SLS on June 22, 2011, at 13:37:45
But is it the production of BDNF that causes the antidepressant effect, or the neurons that (re)grow in the hippocampus and frontal lobe (yes, in the frontal lobe as well)? I never heard that just producing BDNF will cause an antidepressant response.
Because exercise will produce lots of BDNF, so much so that the kids in Naperville, IL do a special PE class before school if they are having trouble. In fact, all the kids are required to do PE, and they can choose from a number of activities, as long as they get their heart rate up to a certain level. These kids outperformed countries like Korea, Japan, and Singapore in several tests of math and science.
Lots of studies on this by Dr. Charles Hillman at U of I. Also the guy who wrote "why zebras don't get ulcers" from Stanford.
I will say this, the cognitive effects of depression and chronic stress/anxiety are profound, but rarely discussed.
I found that after receiving successful treatment, I was able to integrate a foreign language that I'd studied while super depressed. At the time, I was struggling big time, but now I find words and phrases flowing out of some corner of my brain.
I had studied very hard, but nothing seemed to stick. Even after over a year of not using that foreign language, when it came time to use it, I surprised myself. I'm sure there are psychological factors at play i.e. being more confident, but that doesn't explain why I was able to remember things I thought I'd completely lost.
poster:Hombre
thread:989086
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110619/msgs/989291.html