PARIS, Oct 24: Scientists have for the first time pinpointed the neural networks in the brain that generate feelings of optimism, according to a study released on Wednesday.

The findings could lead to a deeper understanding of depression, which is often characterised by the inability to imagine a brighter future for oneself, the study says.

Hope for the future is a common human trait, even when there is no evidence to support such expectations, previous research has shown.

Most humans, for example, believe that they will live longer, stay healthier and be more successful than average, a mindset experts call “optimism bias”.

But until now the exact location in the brain of neuronal activity related to feelings of optimism — and pessimism — have remained obscure.In experiments conducted in the United States, researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to observe the brains of 15 volunteers aged 18 to 36 as they were asked to think about specific future and past events such as “winning an award” or “the end of a romantic relationship.” The respondents were then asked to evaluate several aspects of their own reactions, including degree of arousal and vividness.—AFP