[The Role of the Habenula in Depression: A Review of the Human fMRI Studies]

Abstract

Depression has various symptoms, such as depressed mood or loss of motivation, and the pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear. Recent studies have increased the understanding of the role of the habenula, since the habenula is reported to control the metabolism of monoamine neurotransmitters in the brain through direct projections to the ventral tegmental area and raphe nucleus. Human neuroimaging studies have been performed to attempt to clarify the mechanisms of depression. This manuscript mainly introduces human neuroimaging studies of the role of the habenula in depression.