The brain does what it can to suppress unwanted thoughts, but we often end up wrestling with our demons in the middle of the night anyway. Still, the brain offers us at least some control, which is thought to be an attempt to stabilize us and maintain our well being. Without that control, unwanted memories can become debilitating, which is why intrusive memories are classic symptoms of mental illnesses like schizophrenia, PTSD, and depression.Scientists Unveils The Chemical That Suppresses Unwanted Thoughts In The Brain

Scientists aren’t exactly sure how the brain subdues these thoughts. They know that the prefrontal cortex plays a key role in controlling our actions and stopping our thoughts, but the exact mechanism that triggers this safety system is a mystery. In a study released Friday in Nature Communications, scientists from the University of Cambridge reveal that we can largely blame sleepless nights spent contemplating unwelcome thoughts on a neurotransmitter called GABA.

GABA, short for gamma-aminobutyric acid, is a chemical in the brain that allows messages to pass between nerve cells and acts as the brain’s main ‘inhibitory’ neurotransmitter. When one nerve cell releases GABA, it suppresses the activity of other connected cells. In the new study, the Cambridge researchers showed that the amount of GABA in the brain’s hippocampus can predict how well people’s brains can block the retrieval process of memory, which in turn blocks bad memories from resurfacing.


“What’s exciting about this is that now we’re getting very specific,” co-author Michael Anderson, Ph.D., said in a statement.
GABA receptors have synaptic actions in the hippocampus.

Excerpts from ..http://pengist.com/scientists-unveils-the-chemical-that-suppresses-unwanted-thoughts-in-the-brain/

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