Cited by 153Neural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

A cognitive neuroscience hypothesis of mood and depression.

Open access
Bar, Moshe·2009·Trends in Cognitive Sciences

Abstract

Although mood has a direct impact on mental and physical health, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying mood regulation is limited. Here, I propose that there is a direct reciprocal relation between the cortical activation of associations and mood regulation, whereby positive mood promotes associative processing, and associative processing promotes positive mood. This relation might stem from an evolutionary pressure for learning and predicting. Along these lines, one can think of mood as a reward mechanism that guides individuals to use their brains in the most productive manner. The proposed framework has many implications, most notably for diagnosing and treating mood disorders such as depression; for elucidating the role of inhibition in the regulation of mood; for contextualizing adult hippocampal neurogenesis; and for a general, non-invasive improvement of well-being.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.tics.2009.08.009

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  • Rumination is associated with decreases in the likelihood of new reward-based learning, weakens instrumental action, and reduces engagement of potentially rewarding social networks.

    “rumination is associated with decreases in the likelihood of new reward-based learning, weakens instrumental action, and engagement of potentially rewarding social networks41–43 [contextual learning consequences].”

    From AN OPEN TRIAL OF EMOTION REGULATION THERAPY FOR GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER AND COOCCURRING DEPRESSION. (2015) · cites this paper as [41]

    The paper’s ‘Relevant aspects of associative processing’ section describes rumination as narrow associative thinking and says associations are important for learning and action. Its ‘Concluding remarks’ link broad associations with learning and a positive-mood reward. These passages offer a basis for the learning and action portions of the claim, but do not establish reduced reward-based learning or weakened instrumental action specifically; they do not address engagement with rewarding social networks. The available passages have no page numbers. (LLM, conf=0.73)

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  • There are several reasons why one could develop depression, such as faulty mood regulation by the brain, genetic vulnerability and stressful life events.

    “Research is clear that there are several reasons why one could develop depression, such as faulty mood regulation by the brain, genetic vulnerability and stressful life events (Burns et al., 2002; Bar, 2009).”

    From A Systematic Review of “Helicopter Parenting” and Its Relationship With Anxiety and Depression (2022) · cites this paper as Bar, 2009

    The sections on associative processing and mood link depression to abnormal brain-network function and mood regulation. The concluding remarks also say that not all depression stems from the proposed hippocampal/prefrontal processes. Our copy does not identify genetic vulnerability or stressful life events as reasons someone develops depression; its mention of stress describes it as a concomitant of mood disorders. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Depressive rumination narrows associative processing and in turn decreases the likelihood of new reward-based learning and obfuscates focusing on purposeful action.

    “Depressive rumination is one strategy common to distress disorders that narrows associative processing and in turn, decreases the likelihood of new reward-based learning and obfuscates focusing on purposeful action (Bar, 2009).”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [55]Beck AT 1987 Cognitive Therapy of Depression Guilford Press 425

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Authors
Bar, M.
Affiliations
Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Bar, Moshe
Venue
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-11
Volume
13
Issue
11
Pages
456-463
ISSN
1364-6613 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2167247432
Cited by
152
References
80
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 6
FWCI
0.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Trends in Cognitive Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS050615)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
mood regulation, depression, positive mood, associative processing, cortical activation, reward processing, inhibition, hippocampal neurogenesis, well-being, mood disorders
MeSH terms
Affect, Association, Cognition, Depression, Humans, Neurosciences

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