"Our ability to control our thoughts is fundamental to our wellbeing," said Michael Anderson from the University of Cambridge in the UK. Anderson likens our ability to intervene and stop ourselves retrieving particular memories and thoughts to stopping a physical action. The prefrontal cortex acts as a master regulator, controlling other brain regions - the motor cortex for actions and the hippocampus for memories. Researchers showed that the ability to inhibit unwanted thoughts relies on a neurotransmitter - a chemical within the brain that allows messages to pass between nerve cells - known as GABA. Anderson believes the finding could offer a new approach to tackling intrusive thoughts in these disorders.

Source: dna November 05, 2017 06:56 UTC