Brain with glowing neural pathways being illuminated by targeted light beams.

Deep Brain Stimulation: Can It Rewire Depression?

Lena Kashyap in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 5 min read.

"Exploring the science and potential of deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a cutting-edge treatment for depression, offering new hope for those who haven't found relief through traditional methods."

Depression, a condition affecting millions worldwide, often proves resistant to conventional treatments. While therapy and medication offer relief for many, a significant portion of individuals continue to struggle, seeking alternative solutions for lasting well-being. This is where deep brain stimulation (DBS) emerges as a promising, albeit complex, frontier in mental health treatment.

Deep brain stimulation involves surgically implanting electrodes in specific areas of the brain. These electrodes deliver carefully controlled electrical impulses, aiming to modulate neural activity and alleviate depressive symptoms. Though still under investigation, DBS has shown remarkable potential in cases where other treatments have failed, offering a beacon of hope for those with treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

This article delves into the world of deep brain stimulation, exploring its mechanisms, target areas within the brain, and the latest research shaping its application in depression treatment. It provides an overview of the existing clinical trials, ongoing investigations, and the future directions of DBS as a therapeutic option.

Deep Brain Stimulation: A Targeted Approach to Mental Wellness

Brain with glowing neural pathways being illuminated by targeted light beams.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) isn't a one-size-fits-all solution; instead, it is a highly targeted intervention. Researchers have identified several key brain regions that play a crucial role in mood regulation and are therefore potential targets for DBS. These areas include:

The selection of these brain regions is supported by neuroimaging and lesion studies, which have illuminated their involvement in depression and related mood disorders. DBS studies themselves have inspired the use of some targets through tests on animal models or use in humans for other neuropsychiatric diagnoses, in which improvement in mood was observed as a positive side effect. Some targets have been chosen based on the knowledge of their anatomical and functional position within supposed dysfunctional neural circuits in mood disorders or of their role in neurotransmitter systems.

Subgenual Anterior Cingulate Cortex (sACC): Often referred to as Brodmann area 25, this region is consistently linked to major depressive disorder and feelings of sadness. DBS in the sACC aims to regulate overactivity associated with depressive states.
Ventral Capsule/Ventral Striatum (VC/VS): This area is involved in reward processing and motivation. By stimulating the VC/VS, DBS seeks to reignite interest in activities and alleviate anhedonia, a common symptom of depression.
Nucleus Accumbens (NAcc): A key component of the brain's reward circuitry, the NAcc is targeted to address the loss of pleasure and motivation that characterizes depression. Stimulation of this area aims to enhance reward-seeking behavior and improve overall mood.
Lateral Habenula (LHb): This region plays a role in processing negative emotions and aversive stimuli. DBS of the LHb aims to reduce its overactivity, which may contribute to depressive symptoms.
Inferior Thalamic Peduncle (ITP): As a bundle of fibers interconnecting various brain regions, the ITP is targeted to modulate communication between areas involved in mood regulation.
Medial Forebrain Bundle (MFB): Consisting of two distinct tracts, the MFB is connected to various parts of the limbic system.
Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis (BNST): BNST is located in the basal forebrain, serves as a major output pathway of the amygdala and has a complex role in regulating stress response. Dysfunction in this structure was suggested to play an important role in anxiety disorders, partly through serotonergic activity [83].

While these regions have shown promise, it's important to recognize that DBS for depression is still an evolving field. Researchers are continually refining their understanding of optimal target locations and stimulation parameters to maximize therapeutic benefits.

The Future of DBS: Personalized Treatment and Beyond

While deep brain stimulation holds immense promise for treating depression, several challenges and future directions warrant attention. A consensus on the optimal DBS target/s for treating depression has not been reached yet, hence leaving the door for future investigations in this field still open. Personalized medicine for DBS treatment in depression. In line with the concept of abnormal neurocircuitry in MDD, the observed variability in depressive symptomatology suggests the existence of variability in structural and/or functional abnormalities within the involved brain networks. Reliable biomarkers of these abnormalities are needed to determine.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.11.004, Alternate LINK

Title: Deep Brain Stimulation Targets For Treating Depression

Subject: Behavioral Neuroscience

Journal: Behavioural Brain Research

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Dominik Drobisz, Alena Damborská

Published: 2019-02-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is deep brain stimulation (DBS) and how does it work to treat depression?

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical procedure that involves implanting electrodes in specific areas of the brain. These electrodes deliver carefully controlled electrical impulses. The primary goal of DBS in treating depression is to modulate neural activity within the brain, specifically in regions associated with mood regulation, to alleviate depressive symptoms. DBS is particularly considered for individuals with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), where traditional methods have not provided relief.

Which specific brain regions are targeted by DBS, and why were these areas selected?

Researchers have identified several key brain regions as potential targets for DBS in depression treatment. These include the Subgenual Anterior Cingulate Cortex (sACC), Ventral Capsule/Ventral Striatum (VC/VS), Nucleus Accumbens (NAcc), Lateral Habenula (LHb), Inferior Thalamic Peduncle (ITP), Medial Forebrain Bundle (MFB) and Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis (BNST). The selection of these areas is supported by neuroimaging and lesion studies, which have revealed their involvement in depression and related mood disorders. Some targets have been chosen based on the knowledge of their anatomical and functional position within supposed dysfunctional neural circuits in mood disorders or of their role in neurotransmitter systems.

How does DBS targeting the Ventral Capsule/Ventral Striatum (VC/VS) affect the symptoms of depression?

The Ventral Capsule/Ventral Striatum (VC/VS) area is involved in reward processing and motivation. By stimulating the VC/VS, DBS seeks to reignite interest in activities and alleviate anhedonia, a common symptom of depression. Anhedonia is the inability to feel pleasure, and by targeting this region, DBS aims to restore the brain's reward pathways, improving the individual's overall mood.

What are the challenges and future directions in the field of DBS for depression?

While promising, deep brain stimulation (DBS) for depression faces several challenges. One primary challenge is establishing a consensus on the optimal DBS target or targets for treating depression. Future directions involve personalized medicine for DBS treatment, potentially using biomarkers to determine the best targets and stimulation parameters for individual patients. Further research will refine the understanding of optimal target locations and stimulation parameters to maximize therapeutic benefits.

How does DBS targeting the Subgenual Anterior Cingulate Cortex (sACC) help with depression and its symptoms?

The Subgenual Anterior Cingulate Cortex (sACC), also known as Brodmann area 25, is frequently associated with major depressive disorder and feelings of sadness. The goal of DBS in the sACC is to regulate the overactivity often linked with depressive states. By modulating this region, DBS aims to reduce the severity of depressive symptoms such as persistent sadness, hopelessness, and feelings of worthlessness, potentially leading to significant mood improvement.