Sleep Deprivation Sometimes Relieves Depression. A New Study May Show Why

In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Penn clinical psychologist Philip Gehrman and colleagues investigated why a sleepless night can sometimes lift symptoms of depression. Brain imaging revealed that increased activity in the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex—two regions tied to mood and emotion—was linked to improved mood in participants, regardless of depression status. The findings shed light on the brain mechanisms behind this effect and suggest new, noninvasive paths for rapid treatment that could mimic the benefits of sleep deprivation without losing sleep.