Q and A: about health and research

Sapolsky begins by reviewing Bipolar I disorder , a severe psychiatric illness characterized by alternating periods of mania and depression . During mania, people may experience extreme energy, little need for sleep, rapid speech and thoughts, grandiosity, poor judgment, and sometimes psychosis. Bipolar I is associated with abnormalities in circadian rhythms and an extreme sensitivity to reward and motivation systems , and it is highly heritable. He then turns to Bipolar II disorder , often considered the "younger sibling" of Bipolar I. At first glance, Bipolar II appears to be a milder form of the same illness. Instead of full mania, individuals experience hypomania , which involves: Increased energy and productivity Reduced need for sleep Greater confidence, optimism, and sociability More talkativeness and creativity Numerous ideas and plans Unlike the destructive mania of Bipolar I, hypomania may initially seem beneficial or even advantageous. Sapolsky notes that...

Happiness is typically viewed as one of the most desirable human experiences—something we strive for, cultivate, and protect. But an important and less commonly discussed question is this: In psychiatry, the answer is yes—but not in the way we usually think of happiness. What appears on the surface as extreme joy is often something more complex and potentially dangerous: mania , a core feature of bipolar disorder . Possible Causes of Mania and Bipolar Disorder The exact cause of mania is not fully understood, but current neuroscience suggests it arises from a combination of biological, genetic, and environmental factors . One major contributor is dopamine system dysregulation , in which brain circuits involved in reward, motivation, and anticipation become overactive, particularly along pathways connecting the ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, and prefrontal cortex.  Genetic predisposition also plays a significant role, with bipolar disorder often running in families....