A groundbreaking study recently published in the journal Science is shedding new light on the brain’s enigmatic emotional machinery, offering potent insights into why some emotions seem to fade quickly while others stubbornly linger—a question with profound implications for mental health diagnoses and treatment in Thailand and worldwide. The research, led by a team at Stanford Medicine, provides compelling evidence that a particular phase of neural activity sustains emotional states in the brain, a finding that may help explain challenges ranging from mood disorders to difficulties in autism spectrum disorder.
Emotions are the engine of human life in Thailand, subtly influencing everything from traffic interactions on the roads of Bangkok to the intimate decisions made within Thai families. Yet, when emotions persist too long or flare up inappropriately, the results can lead to distress and dysfunction, a challenge recognized by both Thai psychiatrists and laypeople. The new study marks a leap forward by mapping the brain’s response to negative sensory experiences in both humans and mice, revealing brain activity patterns conserved over millions of years of evolution, and illuminating how emotions become sticky.
Tracing the roots of how emotions are constructed and endure, the research team delivered a mild but irritating stimulus—a puff of air to the eye, the same kind used in routine eye exams—to volunteers. These participants, patients being monitored at Stanford Hospital for epilepsy, described the sensation as “annoying” or “uncomfortable.” As their brains responded, scientists observed a distinct two-stage neural response using electrodes already implanted for clinical monitoring: an immediate reflexive blink, followed by a slower, longer-lasting phase of brain activity associated with the emotional state itself. Lead researcher, Professor of behavioral sciences at Stanford, explained, “Emotional states are fundamental to psychiatry. Our work shows how the brain ‘sustains’ these states long enough to shape behavior” (Earth.com).
Notably, when the researchers repeated the same experiment in mice—whose brains contain about 100 million neurons, compared to the human brain’s 90 billion—they observed strikingly similar behavioral and neurological responses. This allowed the team to identify evolutionarily conserved principles likely shared by all mammals, including humans living in diverse cultures such as Thailand’s. The study’s co-lead author likened the phenomenon to pressing the piano’s sustain pedal: emotions “linger” just as notes do, providing crucial time for the brain to integrate sensory data and make wise decisions.
According to the team, this ability to temporarily “hold” emotions may be vital—especially in complex brains like ours. With myriad tasks and competing signals constantly streaming through the brain, emotional states act as a sort of cognitive glue, holding information together long enough for thoughtful integration. However, just as too little stickiness leads to errors in judgment, excessive emotional persistence can result in pathological states, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)—all of which are increasingly recognized and treated in Thailand’s hospitals (ScienceDirect).
The study further tested how brain states could be artificially shortened. Administering a low dose of ketamine—a medication used in both anesthesia and, more recently, in treating depression—the scientists observed that participants’ initial reflexes to the air puff remained, but the slow, lingering emotional phase dissipated rapidly. One patient even described the sensation as “entertaining,” rather than distressing, with brain scans confirming a dramatically sped-up resolution of the emotional state. These results were mirrored in mice. The researchers proposed that ketamine speeds up what they term the brain’s “intrinsic time scale”—how long activity patterns persist—thereby causing emotional responses to fade more quickly. “Dissociative medication may render the stabilizing phase of brain activity so ephemeral that information can’t be properly integrated across the brain, including to build an emotional state,” explained the lead author (Earth.com).
This focus on temporal dynamics—how long the brain holds onto emotion-related signals—offers new ways to think about conditions where emotions linger too long, such as major depressive disorder, or not long enough, such as in some forms of schizophrenia. According to the researchers, these findings may eventually lead to more targeted interventions that “tune” the time scale of emotional persistence, potentially through medication, brain stimulation, or psychological therapies.
For Thai clinicians and educators, these results are especially relevant. Mood and anxiety disorders are common in Thailand, yet social stigma around mental illness persists, particularly in rural areas. Increased scientific understanding of the biological basis of emotions may help reduce this stigma and support the development of more effective treatments. Major hospitals in cities such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai are already using ketamine for treatment-resistant depression; the study’s insights could refine this practice further (Bangkok Post).
Moreover, the research highlights possible implications for autism. As noted by the lead scientist, individuals on the autism spectrum sometimes struggle with processing rapid bursts of sensory information. The team hypothesises that if the brain’s emotionally integrative phase lingers excessively, this could interfere with cognitive processing speed, perhaps explaining some of the challenges faced by autistic individuals—a topic increasingly recognized by Thailand’s expanding network of special needs educators (Autism Research).
Historically, Thai culture has emphasized emotional balance and self-regulation, drawing on Buddhist principles such as mindfulness (sati) and equanimity (upekkha). Modern Thai mental health practices often integrate these values, promoting meditation and self-awareness as means to manage persistent negative emotions. The new findings align with these traditions, suggesting that training the mind to let go, as taught in Buddhist practice, may indeed have a neurobiological basis.
As Thailand’s mental health sector evolves—driven by policy changes, urbanization, and increased scientific exchange with global institutions—understanding the neural basis of emotional states is crucial. Data from the World Health Organization show that mood disorders are a leading cause of disability among Thais aged 15–44 (WHO Thailand). Research such as the Stanford study may empower Thai psychiatrists to better tailor interventions, possibly combining medication, mindfulness-based therapy, and social supports to adjust the “timing” of emotions for optimal well-being.
Looking ahead, researchers plan to investigate whether these findings apply not only to negative but also positive emotional states, and how factors like stress, trauma, or genetics influence the brain’s emotional persistence. There’s growing anticipation that new treatments may emerge, including next-generation antidepressants that target the duration—not just the intensity—of emotional states.
For Thai readers seeking practical applications, the research reinforces the value of emotional self-awareness and regulation. Practicing mindfulness meditation—a widespread tradition in Thailand—may help naturally “release” lingering emotions and restore mental balance. For those struggling with persistent negative moods, especially if they interfere with work or family life, consulting with a mental health professional is advisable; new therapies inspired by these discoveries are likely to be increasingly available in Thai healthcare settings.
Thais can also contribute to a healthier community by talking openly about emotional health, supporting colleagues or family members experiencing difficulties, and advocating for expanded mental health education in schools and workplaces. As neuroscience continues to demystify the workings of the human mind, applying both age-old wisdom and modern medicine could truly improve the emotional well-being of the Thai nation.
References:
- How emotions build in the brain – and why they linger (Earth.com)
- Ketamine for treatment-resistant depression in Thailand (Bangkok Post)
- Mental Health in Thailand (World Health Organization)
- Major depressive disorder in Asia-Pacific (ScienceDirect)
- Autism research and sensory processing (Wiley Online Library)