And now we come full circle. fMRI -- the ubiquitious (and some would say, shark-jumping) brain-imaging technique that lets scientists map mental function by watching different parts of the brain "light up" -- may help explain how we, yes, lighten up.
NYU's study found that optimism emanates from an unlikely source. It turns out that the amygdala, mainly associated with negative emotions like fear and depression, may also be the seat of our inner Stuart Smalley.
