Choices, Choices, Decision Making Depends On Lateral Habenula New Research Shows

• Lateral habenula associated with depression, may now be linked to decision making

• Study on lateral habenula helps with our understanding of depression treatment

Lateral habenula and decision making
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The lateral habenula is the limbic portion of the habula and is now thought to be associated with decision making.  The function of this part of the brain involves pain processing, reproductive behavior, nutrition, sleep-wake cycles, stress responses, and learning.  The lateral habenula is also linked with depression and avoidance behaviors, in instances where it is smaller, there are increased occurrences of depression.

In 2007, Matsumoto and Hikosaka suggested a correlation between rewards and the lateral habenula, however recent research is getting closer to proving this theory.  A study published by the University of British Columbia shows that there is a stronger correlation between the lateral habenula and decision making than originally thought.

In this new study on the lateral habenula, rats were given the opportunity to exercise their decision making skills.  They had to choose between receiving one food pellet on a regular, timed basis, or four pellets sporadically.  Most often, the rats tended to go after the larger benefit, potentially due to the low cost of receiving the benefit, in this instance waiting for a relatively short amount of time.

Turning off the lateral habenula, scientists had thought that, as suggested by previous studies, the rats would select the larger reward even more often.  However, their findings showed that the rats selected either choice at random, thereby suggesting a stronger correlation between the lateral habenula and decision making.

Professor of Psychology and Brain Research Centre, Stan Floresco, stated that, “These findings clarify the brain processes involved in the important decisions that we make on a daily basis, from choosing between job offers to deciding which house or car to buy,” according to the University of British Columbia.

This research may also add to our understanding of some current methods of depression treatment.  As Stan Floresco from the University of British Columbia reports, “Deep brain stimulation â€" which is thought to inactivate the lateral habenula â€" has been reported to improve depressive symptoms in humans.  But our findings suggest these improvements may not be because patients feel happier. They may simply no longer care as much about what is making them feel depressed.”