Hyperintentionality Hypothesis of Major Depression. Disordered Emotional and Cognitive Self-Observation in Tripartite Synapses and the Glial Networks

Bernhard J Mitterauer

doi:10.23937/2469-5866/1510015

Abstract

Major depressive disorder is basically a disorder of the integration of distinct time periods generated in tripartite synapses and the astroglial networks. If the sequence of time periods is dysregulated, the patient does not only suffer from emotional impairment but also from cognitive deficits dependent on the brain region affected. Since the synaptic interactions operate on feedforward and feedback mechanisms, I speak of synaptic locations of self-observation in real time periods, information processing time periods and information integration time periods. If connexins in the astroglial network are overexpressed, the number of astrocytic receptors in tripartite synapses is also overexpressed.

Highlights

Major depression is a worldwide psychobiological disorder [1]
I will primarily focus on depressed mood, emotional and cognitive impairment
Various functions of glial cells have been identified with growing evidence that glia play an important role in their interaction with neurons

Summary

Introduction

The basic symptoms are depressed mood and loss of interest or pleasure [2]. I will primarily focus on depressed mood, emotional and cognitive impairment. The brain consists of a double cell structure, the neuronal cell system and the glial cell system. Various functions of glial cells have been identified with growing evidence that glia play an important role in their interaction with neurons. I focus on glial-neuronal synaptic units, termed tripartite synapses, and the glial network. A tripartite synapse is composed of the neuronal component (preand postsynapse) and the astrocyte as the glial component. The glial network of astrocytes is organized in domains connected by gap junctions that embody mainly non-overlapping territories [3]. Gap junctions in the astrocytic network are built by connexin proteins composed of two connexons and conducting channels. Dysregulation of self-observation and hyperintentionality are elaborated in the hypothetical model proposed

International Library

Outline of a tripartite synapse and the astroglial network

Effects of antidepressant drugs

Testing the theory and final remarks