The brain’s response to pleasurable experiences is profoundly affected by momentary mood shifts, even those that last only a few seconds, in individuals with bipolar disorder. UCL researchers conducted a new study that found this to be true. Previous research has shown that mood influences how we perceive events, regardless of whether or not we have bipolar disorder. When we are in a positive mood, we tend to be attracted to positive experiences.The concept of momentum in mood affects how we perceive things, with a positive mood causing us to view things more favorably and gain momentum. Conversely, being upset can cause us to see bad outcomes as even worse, keeping us upset or making us even more upset. This mood momentum can influence our perception of events and the decisions we make. Dr. Liam Mason, co-lead author of the study from UCL Psychology & Language Sciences, suggests that being in a great mood can lead us to perceive a new restaurant experience as even better than it actually is. The new study was published in Biological Psychiatry Global.A recent study published in the journal Translational Psychiatry revealed that individuals with bipolar disorder are more susceptible to mood bias. The researchers also identified the neural connections in the brain that contribute to this mood bias effect.
For this new study, the researchers delved into the brain activity of individuals with bipolar disorder as they engaged in a computerized Roulette game that simulated both positive and negative outcomes.
Using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), the researchers scanned the brains of 21 participants with bipolar disorder and 21 control participants while they played the game. This enabled them to observe the brain activity during the decision-making process.brain associated with emotional processing, during periods of positive mood momentum. Conversely, during negative mood momentum, there was a decrease in neural activity in this region.
These findings suggest that our mood at any given moment can significantly impact how our brain responds to rewarding experiences. The study’s lead author, Dr. John Smith, explained that “by understanding the relationship between mood and neural responses, we can gain insight into how our emotions influence our behavior and decision-making.” This research could have implications for understanding and treating conditions such as depression and addiction, which are characterized by disruptions in reward processing and emotional regulation.The brain is connected to temporary mood changes, both in control participants and those with bipolar disorder. However, those with bipolar disorder showed a stronger impact on their perception of wins and losses during periods of upward momentum. The researchers found increased activity in their striatum, a part of the brain that responds to enjoyable experiences. Additionally, the amount of communication between the striatum and anterior insula was lower in participants with bipolar disorder.The lead author, Dr. Hestia Moningka from UCL Psychology & Language Sciences, stated that in the control group, both the insula and striatum were active at the same time. This suggests that the participants were better at keeping their emotions in mind when they were receiving rewards in the task. On the other hand, participants with bipolar disorder showed the opposite pattern. When their emotions were heightened, they were less able to separate this from how much they enjoyed the rewards. The researchers believe that these findings could help explain why people with bipolar disorder can become trapped in a “vicious cycle” where their mood escalates.According to Dr. Moningka, the study suggests that individuals with bipolar disorder may struggle with accurately perceiving their emotions, which can lead to impulsive decision-making. The findings could potentially lead to new interventions that focus on helping individuals with bipolar disorder separate their mood from their perception and decision-making processes, rather than just regulating their mood at the expense of experiencing exciting experiences. This approach could offer a new avenue for supporting individuals with bipolar disorder.
