Research
The brain's 'dimmer switch' could help explain why attention drifts
The Brief
- McGill researchers report that serotonin, best known for its role in mood and mental health, also helps regulate attention.
- The researchers say serotonin-producing neurons deep in the midbrain act like a dimmer switch on attention.
- The findings are reported in Medical Xpress, which describes them as possibly explaining why attention drifts.
Why it matters
The finding links a chemical usually studied for mood to the control of attention, which may help explain attention lapses and could inform future research into attention-related conditions.
Who’s affected
- neuroscientists and researchers studying attention and neurotransmitters
- readers interested in how the brain controls focus
- #serotonin
- #attention
- #neuroscience
- #midbrain
- #brain chemistry
McGill researchers have discovered that serotonin, a brain chemical best known for its role in mood and mental health, also helps regulate attention. "Our findings suggest serotonin-producing neurons deep in the midbrain act like a dimmer switch on attention," said Arjun…