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I took the theme of people and movement and immediately thought about how we, as humans, move and think. This inevitably led me to the brain. Inspired by the project “Brain spa” by Marion Lasserre that was in the project briefing.

I tried to deviate from this in some ideas but I feel the best one is number 3 and I plan on taking this forward.

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The data set I want to look at is physical and mental health of humans. Specifically the ups and downs on the topic, e.g weight, mental state, blood sugar levels, blood pressure etc.

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Slices of your brain that’s connected to you that shows exactly how you feel in your brain when you do things. Parts glow as you feel pain, love and fear etc.

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To help keep track of human weight what if we had a model of yourself on an app that grows as you eat but 5 years in the future. Showing weight gain and loss if you carry on, on this eating habits.

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A plant that is directly linked to your mental health and health, you can’t see your brain but if you saw this plant dying you would do something to save it.

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The bigger the wave the bigger the wave of thought or power of the brain. There could be a limit where if you think that hard you could destroy a town for example. Using a wave machine to measure brain activity.

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Measures how active you are in 1 year if your life, this is then translate into a 3D printed machine where it gives you an artefact after 1 year or a month eg.

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The more you use one side of the brain the darker the part gets, to see which side of the brain you are.
Left= Analytical & Methodical
Right= Creative and Artistic

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“La Nostalgie du Futur” by Marion Lasserre

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“La Nostalgie du Futur” by Marion Lasserre

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La Nostalgie du Futur 2019 La Nostalgie du Futur, 2019 Can emotions be engineered? The stress associated with living in urban areas has...

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“Rearrangeable wooden model of brain scan” by Neil Fraser  

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“Rearrangeable wooden model of brain scan” by Neil Fraser  

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Wooden Brain
4 January 2008
Last month I took a left-right MRI scan, reconstructed it, and rerendered top-bottom and front-back scans. It was interesting to manipulate the data and extract information which while previously present, was not previously visible.

Another method to visualize a complex 3D object is to build a model. The dimensions of the MRI data cuboid are almost exactly 3x4x5. Accordingly, I obtained 60 one-inch cubes (it's the USA, forgive the Imperial measurements), arranged them appropriately, varnished the 94 outside faces, printed nine carefully selected cross-sections and their mirror images, sliced the prints into 266 squares and glued them to the correct internal faces.

Update: Alexandre Girard created a plexiglass version.

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4 January 2008 Last month I took a left-right MRI scan, reconstructed it, and rerendered top-bottom and front-back scans. It was interesting to manipulate the data and extract information which while previously present, was not previously visible. Another method to visualize a complex 3D object is to build a model.

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“Garden of Eden” by Thorsten Kiesl, Harald Moser, Timm-Oliver Wilks

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“Garden of Eden” by Thorsten Kiesl, Harald Moser, Timm-Oliver Wilks

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This project named “Garden of Eden” for some reason stuck in my head, although I was doing ‘people’. I liked how the environment the plant grows up in isn’t its own and we have to change in order for the plant to grow and be healthy.

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Thorsten Kiesl, Harald Moser, Timm-Oliver Wilks
Field: Physical Computing, 2007
Interface Cultures

Heads of lettuce are cultivated under eight airtight Plexiglas domes that allow for controlled circulation of the air within them. The domes are connected to the Internet, which provides access to real-time data on current air pollutionlevels in the capitals of the G7 countries and Austria. These data are used to concoct the same concentrations of pollutants in the atmospheres of the individual domes as are currently contaminating the air in the respective capitalcities.

Garden of Eden was shown at the Campus 2.0 Exhibition as part of the Ars Electronica Festival 2007.

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Thorsten Kiesl, Harald Moser, Timm-Oliver Wilks Field: Physical Computing, 2007Interface Cultures Heads of lettuce are cultivated under eight airtight Plexiglas domes that allow for controlled circulation of the air within them. The domes are connected to the Internet, which provides access to real-time data on current air pollutionlevels in the capitals of the G7 countries and Austria.

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How Plants Bring Joy and Control to Our Brains During Chaos

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The idea is about mental health and this means that the plant will help you reduce stress as well as helping it grow, you’re helping it, help you.

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As modern accessories go, houseplants are not only beloved because of the way they can spruce up a room but also for the way they benefit our mental health. They can brighten our spaces, freshen the air, and provide a mirror into how we're doing on the inside. In fact, they're a great reminder of when, and how, to take care of ourselves.

When the daily grind has us often feeling cut off from the natural world, houseplants can help fill the void. We spoke to folks in different plant communities about the personal wellness benefits they've reaped from plant parenting.
"There's something really zen about potting plants or gardening in general. Forces you to be present in the moment and not being anxious about five million other things." - Mary Marcella
Houseplant ownership doesn't just beautify your space, tending to them can have an immensely calming effect as you get lost in the moments of providing them care. This is an example of mindfulness, a very helpful practice for coping with stress and anxiety.

A study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that participants who took part in a planting task felt calmer, more comfortable, and more relaxed than those who completed a tech-related task.
"When I get in a funk, I use the plants to help me out of it. I'll check on them if there's any dead leaves, dryness, need of watering, and move around to get some sun, etc. This little bit of caring for something else (and who isn't talking back to me) helps me clear my head and restart my day." - Rachel Able
Different plants have different needs, and caring for them means learning their little peculiarities. This means that you may find yourself puttering around, fixating on how to give them light so they grow evenly (as you should do with Pilea Peperomioides), misting them (as you may do with some palms), and dusting their leaves.
"I could talk to them. Tell them everything that was going through my crazy brain. They were great listeners. They never sounded judgy, they never tried to tell me what I was feeling wasn't real, they never pushed me beyond where I was comfortable being pushed." - Kriss Judd
Although we know to reach out to our friends and family when times are tough, sometimes it's nice to have a companion that isn't expecting a conversation or a give-and-take interaction. In fact, there have been reports of doctors "prescribing" houseplants and participation in communal gardens to improve individual well-being.
"They ground me, the process of watering them, taking care of them, and smelling the wet dirt. Every Time! Instantly grounded." - Sheri Deering
Modern life can be a lot of stress, emotional chaos, and rushing here and there. Although gardening has been shown to restore mood, additional studies have also shown that even tiny doses of nature in our everyday lives can have big benefits for our happiness and well-being.

Taking care of your plant babies is a great way to focus on the little things to ground yourself. Such small actions can provide big relief from the hectic energy of the daily grind.
"One thing I do is make sure there are pots of flowers on my front step because coming home to a pop of living color makes me feel happy to be home." - Victoria Fedden
Just as we decorate our spaces with comforting touches like family photos and knickknacks, plants play a similar role in making our homes more beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. This is an incredibly welcome and comforting reality of plant ownership that can help your space feel more joyful. Even science confirms a pop of color from houseplants can evoke various positive effects on your mood.
"When my oldest went off to college, I bought myself a new plant. Within 6 months, I had 75. When they die I feel quite sad, tell them I'm sorry I couldn't save them and thank them for the joy they brought my family." - Teresa Bond
Not all plants survive, this can be for a variety of reasons. Maybe it was human error, or maybe they just didn't have the right conditions to thrive. Having houseplants can teach us to let go, and realize that sometimes things just don't pull together for success as nicely as we wish they would. And that's okay.
"Home isn't home without life bursting at every seam. Every plant tells a story, talks to other plants, has a life cycle, experiences hardship, and learns to pull through with support of others, like me." - Rachel Hunsell
When you're stuck in the ebb and flow of life, it can be really hard to keep perspective on life's seasons, and how they're not all the same. Sometimes keeping plants can help you appreciate how our lives and internal states can mimic nature: sometimes struggling, not always blooming, but always valid. With the cycles of life on display, it's easier to trap into the wisdom of how you view life.
"When people come over to my house, they almost always comment on my plants. I'm a super awkward conversationalist with people I'm not yet close to, so it's really helpful to have the plants to chitchat about to get us going." - Kristen Mae
Although we are more connected than ever with the internet and social media, for some of us, truly connecting in person can be a challenge. One thing about plant people is that they absolutely love finding one of their own in the wild, and plants can be a simple default conversation starter that feels safe and secure.
"I could never keep house plants alive. When I finally confronted some past trauma and really dealt with some mental health issues, suddenly I could keep a dozen house plants alive and thriving!" - Cameron Chapman
We're all a part of nature, and although many of us live in cities and can feel cut off from it, plants show us just how connected we all are. Consider it coincidental or strangely but often in houseplant-loving groups (such as Houseplant Hobbyist on Facebook), plant people tend to notice how their plants mimic their internal nature.
"Having to take care of [them] and seeing genuine results from your own actions is really healthy... Real responsibilities (but just a lot less high stakes) but it also shows real results to my actions, which I think is the biggest benefit." - Kate Wasacz
If you're feeling down, it can sometimes feel like there are many forces outside of your control wreaking havoc on your life. Taking care of plants can provide us with some perspective that we do have some control, and that our actions matter.
"It sounds crazy, but a lot of times watching a plant wilt because I maybe forgot to water for a couple of days is a good reminder that I need to also take care of myself. I might not be physically wilting the way a plant does, but I definitely feel like something is lacking when I neglect to nurture myself." - Kristen Mae
By far the best part of plant ownership is how it gives us a little glimpse into how we're handling our own responsibilities. If your plants aren't thriving due to your care, it's probably a good time to look at the rest of your life as well.

The truth is, you can't just fill your house with plants and call it a day. Working toward improved mental health is a process that deserves your care and attention.

If caring for plants makes you feel all grown up, then relearning to care for yourself will make you an adulting master.

Luckily, we share some of the same requirements to thrive that plants do. Here are some self-care tips that work for plants and humans alike:

Stay hydrated.

Get lots of fresh air and sunlight.

Make sure you're getting the proper nutrients.

Talk nicely about, and to, yourself.

Know that it's possible to perk up after you wilt.

Give yourself the right conditions to thrive.

Cut off "dead weight" that's bringing you down.

Tidy up your environment.

Allow yourself to have "seasons."

If something isn't working, troubleshoot.

Mandi Em is a freelance writer, humorist, and blogger behind Healthy Living for Hot Messes. Mandi is a proud mother of 3 kids, and many finicky houseplants.

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How Plants Bring Joy and Control to Our Brains During Chaos

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As modern accessories go, houseplants are not only beloved because of the way they can spruce up a room but also for the way they benefit our mental health. They can brighten our spaces, freshen the air, and provide a mirror into how we're doing on the inside.

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These are the most common reasons people suffer from mental health in this generation.

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“Your mind is a garden, your thoughts are the seeds. You can grow flowers, or you can grow weeds.” - William Wordsworth

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Shocking statistics about how mental health is rising and only continuing to rise. This article gives clear statistics about the rise of each disorder.

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Find out how common mental health problems are in England and Wales, and who is most likely to be affected by them.

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Looking at ways to help mental health I figured that my project would be a way to visualise their own mental health by how healthy the plant is. Not diagnosing there symptoms but showing them they’re low or high by plant growth. Plants growth = mental growth.

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Article is about how looking and caring for a plant can help not only mental health but physical human health. Psychological benefits include improved mood and reduced stress levels.

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Houseplants: to support human health / RHS Gardening

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As well as looking good, houseplants support human health in homes, offices, school and hospitals. Research suggests that the greatest benefits of indoor plants are through wellbeing and productivity improvement. There is discussion around their influence on indoor air quality. Detail on the number of plants required is being researched.

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5 Easy Houseplants That Double as Self-Care Reminders

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“Plants are nature’s notification to give yourself more space in this world”

This article was brilliant in helping me come up with a question I wanted to ask the audience and it is: “If we could see our mental state, would we help it?” - this is the basis of my project.

This source gave me inspiration in the way it can “double as a self-care reminder”.

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Plants are nature's notification to give yourself more space in this world.

Design by Andie Hodgson

I'm not a mom to a countless number of plants yet, but I'm on my way to that title.

Initially, when I began to adorn a small corner of my house with tiny, leafy plants and a few succulents, it was solely for the purpose of accessorizing and livening up my house.

However, after dedicating time to nurturing my plants on an almost daily basis, I began to realize that they're more than just a means to reach my household aesthetic goal.

But not all plants bring joy, especially high-maintenance ones. Some also speak to us in hard times more than others.

I rounded up a list of plants and dug into their personalities. Find out which ones are calling out to you based on their benefits, as well as efforts and attention you want to give.

1. For a reminder to break toxic ties, try aloe vera

Aloe vera is probably my favorite house plant simply because it has so many benefits and is easy to care for. If you're the type to give a lot (emotionally, monetarily, or physically) to others, you and aloe vera may make the perfect pairing.

While you can cut off the leaves to herbally treat and skin wounds (burns, cuts, scars, and inflammation), aloe vera is also a powerful plant that can purify the air around you. It's not the same as an air filter, but it can help with detoxing your air of harmful chemicals.

Aloe vera and you: During the repotting process, you may have to trim away any dead pieces that are no longer contributing to its growth.

Doing this can serve as reminder of your own growth: as you approach different life stages, you sometimes have to let go of who or what may be stopping you from thriving.

And as you continue to learn more about yourself and experience new things in life, it might be necessary to replant yourself. Make choices that help you continue to grow into the person you want to be.

2. For a reminder to relax and stay calm, try lavender

This plant is very easy on the eyes, smells delightful, and is the source of one of the most popular essential oils. For those who forget to unwind or take a few seconds for themselves, especially at the end of the day, lavender (and its powerful scent) is for you.

Although it's not considered to be a traditional houseplant, lavender offers a ton of benefits that'll make just about everyone want to keep some version of it around.

The floral smell is effective at decreasing anxiety and providing a calm atmosphere.

Topically, it's also great to add to your beauty routine due to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Lavender and you: Close your eyes and take in a few deep breaths whenever you're feeling overwhelmed or when you want to get a good night's rest. As you inhale the relaxing scent, it'll help calm you down.

During the warmer spring months, move your lavender plant outside as it helps the plant to catch some fresh rays of sunshine. While you're at it, take in a few moments outside to get your own dose of vitamin D as well.

Side effects of lavender essential oil
Always dilute lavender oil before applying directly to your skin. Research shows that it may be a hormone disruptor.

3. For a reminder to maintain a work-life balance, try peace lilies

Here's another natural purifier to add to the list: peace lilies. This gorgeous plant improves the flow of energy in the home as it neutralizes harmful indoor chemicals. It's also believed to help people flourish mentally, physically, and spiritually.

If you're into astrology, you'll appreciate that peace lilies have a delicate and gentle appearance but are extremely strong and deep-rooted, akin to the energy exuded by people born under the Cancer zodiac sign.

Peace lilies and you: Peace lilies symbolize peace, tranquility, prosperity, purification, and solitude. Because peace lilies have such powerful symbolism, speak positive affirmations to your plants. Only say what you, yourself, would want to hear.

4. For a reminder to survive and thrive during hard times, try a snake plant

Known to provide a strong protective energy in your space, snake plants are extremely durable and require very little attention in order to grow.

For easy-going folk who need a reminder of how resilient they are when times get tough, snake plants are here for you. Snake plants are easy-going and the ideal plant to keep in observation. Meaning: they require little attention and still thrive under a little pressure - just like a Libra!

This plant is unique because it has the ability to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen at night, meaning that if you live in an area with no air flow, having quite a few snake plants around you may help sanitize the oxygen in your space!

Snake plants and you: Snake plants serve as a reminder that even when you may feel alone or experiencing a difficult time, you can still choose to grow through and survive even the hardest situations.

When you see this plant, find a quiet spot in your home to sit down next to it, close your eyes, breathe in the cool, clean air it provides, and find your peace.

5. For a reminder to stay present, try a eucalyptus

This popular plant is known not only for its distinct, pleasant aroma, but also for its ability to help treat asthma, colds, and congestion.

Eucalyptus and you: For those who need a reminder to appreciate the present and what the day will bring, the eucalyptus is the ideal plant. Take a few moments to inhale its healing and powerful scent. Doing this brings you back into the present moment.

Remember that this present moment is all you have. Don't think about what happened yesterday as you can't change that, and don't concern yourself with tomorrow's to-do list because all you have is this very moment. Enjoy.

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5 Easy Houseplants That Double as Self-Care Reminders

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Plants can do more than beautify your life - they can also act as nature's reminder and support for when life gets you down. Here are five easy-to-care-for houseplants to choose from, based on your mental health needs. All of them have multiple benefits, including boosting creativity and cleaning the air.

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6 Indoor Plant Personality Types: Find Your Match!

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When deciding which plant I was going to go for, I came across this interesting article about plants and their personality types. Could the plant be personal and represent you as well?

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6 Indoor Plant Personality Types: Find Your Match!

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We made it easy to find the right houseplant to match your personality while giving your space style, drama and lots of character.

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“The plant grows with you, as your mind grows, it grows” 

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“The plant grows with you, as your mind grows, it grows” 

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THE PLANT'S TRUE "BRAIN" - Plant Physiology

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The true “brains” of a plant is its roots. I need a way to showcase the roots in a way you can see them grow as well as the leaf. A glass box? Or even see through soil?

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One important mistake that people usually make, is thinking that plants are just sessile organisms that are green and produce the oxygen we breath. They are right in part, plants do produce oxygen through photosynthesis. However, they also do grow constantly, breath, move and "talk" to each other. How can plants be able to do all these things? The answer is simple, and just like us, they have a brain. A plant with a brain you might ask? How is that possible? The answer is quite simple, plants indeed do have brains, just not in the shape that first comes to mind. The plant's "brain" is their roots.

The root system controls numerous and vital processes in the plant, even functioning as its "heart" by pumping water and nutrients across the whole plant. The roots are the main point of entry of water and minerals into the plant, after which these substances are transported into the rest of the plant's tissues. The roots also act as a main organ for nutrient reserves, storing nutrients in many forms, such as sugars in sugar beets and starch as is the case of potatoes. Roots come in all shapes and sizes, such as fibrous roots like those of maize, adventitious roots of grass, tap-roots as carrots and tuberous roots like potatoes. Fun fact, did you know that there are aerial roots, which grow above ground? These are famously seen in mangroves.

But, how are the roots able to do all this? To answer this question, it is important to learn the basic morphology of the root.

The root is made up of 3 main regions:

Zone of cell division

Zone of cell elongation

Zone of cell differentiation

The tip of the root is protected by the root cap called the calyptra, just after that we can find the zone of cell division or the root apex meristem (RAM) where we can find stem cells that are continuously forming new types of cell. After that we find the cell elongation zone, where these new cells begin to grow in size until reaching the third zone called the differentiation zone, where these cells are differentiated into different types of cells in the root. Here we can find new ramifications and root hairs to increase the surface area for water and nutrient absorption.

Water can be absorbed in all the permeable membranes throughout the root surface. Older root regions may be impermeable to water uptake due to the deposition of suberin, an inert impermeable waxy substance present in the cell walls of corky tissues. Water uptake in roots occurs either through the symplast (1) or apoplast (2).

The symplast means that water is transported from cell to cell through the cytoplasms connected by plasmodesmata. Apoplastic water uptake means that the water passes around the cells without entering them, thus being a more energy effective method. When the water reaches the vascular tissues, it will be transported to the rest of the plant through the xylem. However, in older tissues, we can find the casparian strip, which is a thin impermeable layer that doesn't allow water through to the xylem. So, in order to keep the root growing and forming new root hairs, it is important to keep the whole system young and continuously renewing itself. This is where new and innovative solutions come into play to stimulate this growth and maintain the whole root system young and active, thus taking care of the rest of the plant maintaining an optimal growth with the correct physiological and hormonal balance.

Plants are just like an iceberg, there is always more than meets the eye. The root system is one of the most important and vital parts of the plant, controls water and nutrient uptake, hormonal transport and most importantly, physiological balance throughout the plant. So, the next time you're looking at your plants, remember, the green leaves, bright flowers and big fruits are all thanks to the roots, the true "brain" of the plant.

By Abbas Caballero

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THE PLANT'S TRUE "BRAIN" - Plant Physiology

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One important mistake that people usually make, is thinking that plants are just sessile organisms that are green and produce the oxygen we breath. They are right in part, plants do produce oxygen through photosynthesis. However, they also do grow constantly, breath, move and "talk" to each other.

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What Is the Chemistry Behind Depression?

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The chip on your head will measure these 3 neurotransmitters that are most common in depression -Dopamine, Norepinephrine and Serotonin. The plant then grows when levels are high and deteriorates when low, making you focus on your mental health.

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There are several theories about what causes depression. The condition most likely results from a complex interplay of individual factors, but one long-prevalent explanation suggested that abnormal brain chemistry played a primary role.

More recent findings indicate that depression is likely not the result of chemical imbalances in the brain. However, the belief that chemical imbalances are responsible for causing depression is widely held by the American public. One survey found that nearly 85% of respondents believed that such imbalances were the likely cause of depression.

Sometimes, people with depression relate the condition to a specific factor, such as a traumatic event in their life. However, it's not uncommon for people who are depressed to be confused about the cause. They may even feel they don't have "a reason" to be depressed.

In these cases, learning about the theories of what causes depression can be helpful. Here's an overview of what is known (and not-yet-known) about how the brain's chemistry may influence depression.

Brain Chemicals and Depression

Previously, it was suggested that, for some people, having too little of certain substances in the brain (called neurotransmitters) could contribute to the onset or worsening of depression. According to this idea, restoring the balance of brain chemicals could help alleviate symptoms.

This is where the different classes of antidepressant medications may come in. Many antidepressants alter levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain.

The most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants, known as SSRIs, block the reabsorption of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that can affect mood. The "serotonin hypothesis" suggested that low levels of this neurotransmitter were linked to depression. The idea was that increasing serotonin levels could help improve mood and relieve symptoms of depression.

Recent Evidence

The belief that depression is caused by chemical imbalances has been declining in the scientific and medical community for some time. And a study published in a 2022 issue of the journal Molecular Psychiatry found further reason to doubt this explanation. The research indicated there is little evidence to suggest that depression is caused by chemical imbalances in the brain.

While such findings challenge the idea that a serotonin deficiency is responsible for causing depression, it doesn't mean that mental health treatments are ineffective.

Such findings represent a significant shift in our understanding of depression, but this does not mean people taking antidepressants should stop their medication. More research is needed to fully understand what causes depression, how antidepressants affect the condition, and what other treatments may also be effective for managing symptoms of depression.

The 2022 study also found a strong connection between traumatic life events and the onset of depression. This further suggests that depression is caused by complex factors, including environmental variables, and cannot be reduced to simply a chemical imbalance in the brain.

Depression Is Complex

Even with the help of medications that affect specific neurotransmitters in the brain, depression is a highly complex condition to treat. What proves to be an effective treatment for one person with depression may not work for someone else. Even something that has worked well for someone in the past may become less effective over time, or even stop working, for reasons researchers are still trying to understand.

Researchers continue to try to understand the mechanisms of depression, including brain chemicals, in hopes of finding explanations for these complexities and developing more effective treatments.

What Are Neurotransmitters?

Put simply, neurotransmitters are chemical messengers in the brain. The nerve cells of the brain use neurotransmitters to communicate with each other. The messages they send are believed to play a role in mood regulation.

The space between two nerve cells is called the synapse. When cells want to communicate, neurotransmitters can be packaged up and released from the end (axon) of a presynaptic cell. As a packet of neurotransmitters crosses the space, it can be taken up by receptors for a specific chemical on postsynaptic cells (dendrite). For example, serotonin receptors pick up serotonin molecules.

If there are any excess molecules in the space, the presynaptic cell will gather them back up and reprocess them to use in another communication. Each type of neurotransmitter can carry a different message and plays a unique role in creating an individual's brain chemistry.

The chemical theory of depression suggested that imbalances in this brain chemistry were a primary cause of depression. However, recent findings found no evidence to support this idea.

The Role of Key Neurotransmitters

The three neurotransmitters that are often implicated in depression are:

Other neurotransmitters can send messages in the brain, including glutamate, GABA, and acetylcholine. Researchers are still learning about the role these brain chemicals play in depression and other conditions, such as Alzheimer's and fibromyalgia.

Another substance that might play a role in mood is dopamine. Dopamine creates positive feelings associated with reward or reinforcement that motivate us to continue with a task or activity. Dopamine is believed to play an important role in a variety of conditions affecting the brain, including Parkinson's and schizophrenia.

There is also evidence that reduced dopamine levels can contribute to depression in some people. When other treatments have failed, medications that affect the dopamine system are often added and can be helpful for some people with depression.

Norepinephrine

Norepinephrine is both a neurotransmitter and a hormone. It plays a role in the " fight or flight response" along with adrenaline. It helps send messages from one nerve cell to the next.

Schildkraut proposed depression occurred when there is too little norepinephrine in certain brain circuits. Alternatively, mania results when too much neurotransmitter is in the brain.

There is evidence that supports the hypothesis, however, it has not gone unchallenged by researchers. For one, changes in norepinephrine levels do not affect mood in every person. Further, medications specifically targeting norepinephrine may alleviate depression in some people but not others.

Another neurotransmitter is serotonin or the "feel good" chemical. In addition to helping regulate your mood, serotonin has a number of different jobs throughout the body from your gut to blood clotting to sexual function.

In relation to its role in depression, serotonin has taken center stage in the past few decades thanks to the advent of antidepressant medications like Prozac (fluoxetine) and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). As their name implies, these medications specifically act on serotonin molecules.

Newer antidepressants called serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) like Effexor (venlafaxine) target both serotonin and norepinephrine. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) also affect norepinephrine and serotonin, but they have the added effect of influencing histamine and acetylcholine. These substances produce side effects, such as dry mouth, blurry vision, constipation, and urinary hesitancy.

SSRIs, on the other hand, do not affect histamine and acetylcholine and don't have the same side effects, and are safer from a cardiovascular standpoint. Therefore, doctors, psychiatrists, and people with depression tend to prefer them to older classes of antidepressants like TCAs.

Causes of Low Neurotransmitter Levels

While recent findings found no evidence to support the idea that chemical imbalances are responsible for causing depression, many people do find relief from taking antidepressants that impact neurotransmitter levels. An important question is what might cause the low levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine in the first place?

Low levels of neurotransmitters can result when there is a breakdown anywhere in the process. Research has indicated several potential causes of chemical imbalances in the brain, including:

Molecules that help make neurotransmitters (specific enzymes) are in short supply

Not enough receptor sites to receive the neurotransmitter

Presynaptic cells are taking the neurotransmitter back up before it has a chance to reach the receptor cell

Too few of the molecules that build neurotransmitters (chemical precursors)

Too little of a specific neurotransmitter (for example, serotonin) is being produced

Several emerging theories are concerned with the factors that promote lowered levels, such as cellular (specifically mitochondrial) stress. But one of the main challenges for researchers and doctors hoping to connect depression to low levels of specific brain chemicals is that they don't have a way to consistently and accurately measure them.

Current and Future Depression Treatments

Understanding the chemistry of depression may help people better understand the treatments available. Psychotherapy is helpful for some people with depression, but others also find greater relief when these treatments are used alongside medications.

To complicate treatment further, medication does not always work for people with depression. One study evaluating the effectiveness of currently available antidepressants found that these medications only work in about 60% of people with depression.

Whatever might be causing your symptoms, depression affects your internal and external life. Therefore, medication alone may not be sufficient to address all the ways in which depression can affect you.

Research suggests that neurotransmitter levels can be affected by factors other than medication and that psychotherapy can help a person learn about them. For example, stress may contribute to low levels of certain neurotransmitters.

While taking an antidepressant medication might help with the symptoms, it doesn't necessarily address the other underlying causes of depression. In this situation, therapy to improve stress management and reduce stress could potentially be helpful.

Depression Treatments on the Horizon

Researchers are studying other molecular pathways in the brain (including the glutaminergic, cholinergic, and opioid systems) to see their role in depression. It may be that rather than a simple deficiency in one specific brain chemical being the causative factor, some depression symptoms could be related to the relative levels of each type of neurotransmitter in different brain regions.

Rather than being a simple equation of some unknown factor causing low levels of one or more neurotransmitters and these low levels creating the symptoms of depression, the actual basis of depression is much more complex.

While this complexity is often evident to people living with depression, medical professionals and researchers are still trying to understand the intricate nature of diagnosing and treating the condition.

For example, in addition to the role of neurotransmitters, we know there are multiple factors involved in causing depression ranging from genetic factors and childhood experiences to our present day-to-day lives and relationships. Even inflammation is being explored as a potential contributing factor.

Combatting the Chemical Imbalance Stigma

Acknowledging the limitations of our current knowledge of depression and its treatment is important. In recent years, some researchers have expressed concerns that pharmaceutical companies marketing antidepressant medications may have misled consumers by oversimplifying or misrepresenting the research into the brain chemistry of depression.

Several studies have found that when told depression is caused by a chemical imbalance, people tend to feel less confident in their ability to manage the condition. Other studies have found that when depression is framed as a disease of the brain, people are more likely to feel the need to avoid a person with depression (usually out of the fear that they are dangerous).

Not all the research has been negative, though. Several studies included in a 2012 meta-analysis indicated that one of the most effective ways to address and challenge social stigma around mental illness is to educate and discuss conditions and treatment-which includes being upfront and honest about what is still unknown or not well understood.

Recap

A Word From Verywell

Accepting how little we truly know about the chemistry of depression can help us maintain perspective and expectations for the medications used to treat depression. For people who are trying to find the right treatment, understanding the complex chemistry can be reassuring when a particular drug doesn't work for them or if they need to try more than one antidepressant.﻿﻿

Understanding the complexity of depression can also be helpful for those who have been offered hurtful advice, such as being told to "just snap out of it." It is no easier for someone to forget they are depressed than it would be for someone with diabetes to lower their blood sugar by simply not thinking about it.

Being realistic about the limitations of our knowledge can help us remember that for the time being, there is no one treatment that will work for everyone with depression. More often than not an interdisciplinary approach is needed. At the very least, every person dealing with depression needs and deserves a support team.

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What Is the Chemistry Behind Depression?

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What is the chemistry of depression? How do changes in neurotransmitters, the messengers of the brain, cause symptoms and respond to medications?

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Serotonin, Dopamine and Norepinephrine are the 3 neurotransmitters i will be focusing on. They are located in the midline of the brain stem so therefore a reader on the temple should give us the best and clearest reading of brain activity.

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I want to take the semantic value of this deep brain stimulator and use it as a brain chip that can read the signs of depression or anxiety. I want to take this idea but make it more futuristic for example wireless?

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This is closer to the idea i wanted to portray, this sort of stick on chip that gives you real time depression levels. A device that can be taken on and off but small on the side of the head to collect the data in real time: a device that can send information via Bluetooth to the plant.

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Artefact 1: Neurotransmitter reader

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I chose a bonsai tree as the plant of focus for my project for many reasons. Indoor bonsai trees have a life expectancy of roughly the same as us 50-80 years old and need daily care when living indoors. This makes the project go on for a human life and you can see the progress as you grow yourself. They are very similar to brains in that they can grow big a bold of nurtured properly and slow down when not doing okay meaning it gives the person incentive to water and take care of it - just like their own mental health and brain.

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Hydroponics is the perfect way to show and display my bonsai tree. It clearly shows the roots or the “brains” of the operation and allows the user to fully see its growth.

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Semantically I want this to be a feature of the house or place you’re in, like a fish bowl. A glass housing so you can see the full growth and notice changes quickly.

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Model plan: This is how I plan to show the roots and plant in a clear format.

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This would be the desired outcome of the project, a plant fully grown because your mental health is good. Showing you personally that you’re growing and improving while giving life to a plant.

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As a change from the link to the living conditions of the plant, it is now linked to the growth hormone auxin, which stimulates growth for the plant. The higher levels of auxins the more and bigger it will grow.

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auxin, any of a group of plant hormones that regulate growth, particularly by stimulating cell elongation in stems. Auxins also play a role in cell division and differentiation, in fruit development, in the formation of roots from cuttings, in the inhibition of lateral branching (apical dominance), and in leaf fall (abscission).

The most important naturally occurring auxin is ß- indolylacetic acid (IAA), which is formed either from the amino acid tryptophan or from the breakdown of carbohydrates known as glycosides. This hormone affects plants by its action on chemical bonds of carbohydrates comprising plant cell walls. The process permits the cells to be irreversibly altered and is accompanied by the entry of water and the synthesis of new cell wall material.

In addition to promoting normal growth in plant length, IAA and other auxins influence the growth of stems toward the light ( phototropism) and against the force of gravity ( geotropism). The phototropic response occurs because greater quantities of auxin are distributed to the side away from the light than to the side toward it, causing the shaded side to elongate more strongly and thus curve the stem toward the light. Similarly, the geotropic response occurs because more auxin accumulates along the lower side of the growing stem than along the upper side, generating an upward curvature. The downward growth of roots is also associated with a greater quantity of auxin in their lower halves. This effect is attributed to an inhibitory action of auxins on root growth, but this aspect of auxin action is not yet fully understood. See also tropism.

Many other naturally occurring and synthetic compounds called auxins also have growth-promoting properties, but they are not always as active as IAA. Some of these compounds, however, resist the enzymatic destruction that is the normal fate of IAA within the plant; this feature is of great value in research and in horticulture, because auxin action can be prolonged. Both natural and synthetic auxins are used in horticulture, agriculture, home gardening, and plant science for the promotion of rooting, fruit setting, fruit thinning, and fruit-drop control. Other auxinlike compounds are used as selective weed killers (e.g., to disturb the leaf growth of dicotyledonous plants either in fields containing monocotyledonous cereal crops or in lawns) and as agents that remove leaves from dicotyledonous plants (defoliating agents).

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Melissa Petruzzello, Associate Editor.

Learn More in these related Britannica articles:

The distribution of auxins, which promote the lengthwise growth of plants, is correlated with the distribution of the growth regions of the plant. The most important auxin is β-indolylacetic acid (IAA), which is formed either from the amino acid tryptophan or from the breakdown...

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...of these hormones are the auxin s, the most common of which is called indoleacetic acid. Auxins are formed in young, growing organs, such as opening buds, and are transported away from tips of shoots toward the base of the plant, where they stimulate the cells to elongate and sometimes to...

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These hormones, known as auxin s, diffuse through the tissues beneath the stem tip and concentrate toward the shaded side, causing elongation of these cells and, thus, a bending of the tip toward the light. The end result is the maintenance of the plant in an optimal condition with respect...

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Auxin, any of a group of plant hormones that regulate growth, particularly by stimulating cell elongation in stems. Auxins also play a role in cell division and differentiation, in fruit development, in the formation of roots from cuttings, in the inhibition of lateral branching, and in leaf abscission.

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I want to take the semantic value of a bottle feeder commonly used in planting and instead fill it with auxin to increase the levels. Working as an injector. I want to make it more modern by making it white and clear so you can see the liquid going in.

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Artefact 2: An auxin reader that goes directly into the roots of the plant in order to read and change the plants growth as your mental health changes through injecting or feeding more or less auxins to the plant.

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1.  "1 in 4 people will experience a mental heal problem of some kind each year" sadly, this will only rise, as it seems were heading toward a future with mental health in mind...

2. But imagine you could see your brain, I want to ask you all this, if you could see your mental state, would you help it? ............

3. Grow your brain fits in a biophilic world and is a concept that explores the idea of visualising your mental health.... by linking your brains 3 main indicators of mental health problems to the life and healthiness of a plant.

4. It works by placing this, neurotransmitter on the temple of your head... and links to the growth hormone "auxin" in the plant through this reader...

5. The plant works like your brain... if youre mental health is low, it is visualised in the plant... but as you grow, it grows with you...

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The video link for the youtube edition.