July 2016 PMID 27337390

Learned helplessness at fifty: Insights from neuroscience.

Steven F Maier, Martin E P Seligman

Mentions

92
Peak: 5 in Sep 2025
across 6 sources since Jul 2019

Extended reach

308,207
potential audience

Total likes

8,691

Video views

93,429

Mentions per month

Jul 2019 – Nov 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News44 articles
  • X / Twitter31 posts
  • Blogs10 articles
  • YouTube4 videos
  • Facebook2 posts
  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Discussions emphasize the importance of recent findings, such as the role of the medial prefrontal cortex and synaptic strength, and highlight how these insights enhance understanding of stress responses, with words like 'interesting' and 'love the revision' underscoring the curiosity and perceived significance of the research.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions recognize the significance of the article’s insights, especially regarding neural mechanisms and terms like the medial prefrontal cortex, showing general agreement.

InterestHigh interest

Posts indicate high curiosity about recent research developments, neural pathways, and implications, reflecting strong interest.

EngagementModerate engagement

Some posts delve into detailed neural processes, referencing specific studies and methods, which shows active engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

Given the focus on neural mechanisms and potential implications for understanding stress and depression, the posts suggest a moderate impact on scientific and broader audiences.

Abstract in brief

  • Learned helplessness, initially thought to result from animals learning their responses no longer matter, is actually due to an innate passive response to prolonged stress mediated by serotonin activity.
  • The ability to overcome this passivity involves the medial prefrontal cortex recognizing control over stressful situations, which suppresses passive responses by inhibiting the dorsal raphe nucleus.
  • Understanding these neural mechanisms suggests new approaches to treating depression by focusing on enhancing control perception and modifying pathways related to passivity and control expectation.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
_aestheticprimal_
@aestheticprimal · X

the most interesting thing I've found after reviewing the paper: 'Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from Neuroscience' medial-prefrontal cortex detects whether stress (low- energy environment) is escapable or inescapable does it think it is escapable? synaptic strength https://t.co/0juzBYTv6H

Aug 31, 2025 · 170 likes · 9 shares · 39,629 followers View post →
Herun
@_herun07 · X

Referensi: 1. Credit video: Atanassoff et al, 2014 PLOS ONE / CC BY 4.0 / Disconnected neurons. 2. Maier, S. F., & Seligman, M. E. (2016). Learned helplessness at fifty: Insights from neuroscience. Psychological review, 123(4), 349. 3. Hiroto, D. S., & Seligman, M. E. (1975).

Aug 22, 2024 · 8 likes · 24,193 followers View post →
_aestheticprimal_
@aestheticprimal · X

@uberboyo I love the revision on Seligman his work on learned helplessness: https://t.co/Lg0vEyvzOh and almost anything about the mPFC as well rat studies on learned helplessness where they study efficiency of certain foods/supplements on ability to cure learned helplessness is

Jun 23, 2025 · 6 likes · 39,629 followers View post →
Real Scientists DE
@realsci_DE · X

@lipipangstrumpf Das bezieht sich auf Erkenntnisse aus den letzten 50 JJahren. Hier ist ein spannender Überblick dazu. Die meisten Studien drehen sich darum Menschen oder Tiere unkontrolierbaren Stressoren auszusetzen & dann zu testen, wie sie auf kontrollierbare reagieren https://t.co/Tb1jjDNBm5

Apr 29, 2023 · 3 likes · 18,039 followers View post →
Влади в Нови Саде
@WladySpb · X

@pushkinistan Вот это прям подробное исследование на английском: "Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights From Neuroscience" Я его по диагонали читал, честно признаюсь) У Артура Шарифова хорошее видео про это, "Парадокс бессилия".

Jul 20, 2025 · 2 likes · 2,017 followers View post →
Neurodiversity Manitoba
@neurodiversitymb.bsky.social · Bluesky

Jul 24, 2025 · 2 likes · 1 share View post →

All mentions

Prastao
@rayprastao · X

RT @aestheticprimal: the most interesting thing I've found after reviewing the paper: 'Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from Neuros…

Oct 19, 2025 · 9 shares · 19 followers View post →
Roham Torabi
@AlborzCIP · X

Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from Neuroscience Authors: Steven F Maier and Martin E P Seligman https://t.co/raEU4NzsVw

Sep 14, 2025 · 34 followers View post →
Lycurgus
@LycurgusSpartan · X

RT @aestheticprimal: the most interesting thing I've found after reviewing the paper: 'Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from Neuros…

Sep 6, 2025 · 9 shares · 834 followers View post →
FiatFiatFiat
@FiatFiatFiat3 · X

RT @aestheticprimal: the most interesting thing I've found after reviewing the paper: 'Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from Neuros…

Sep 1, 2025 · 9 shares · 1,277 followers View post →
Pavitr
@Pavitra_0 · X

RT @aestheticprimal: the most interesting thing I've found after reviewing the paper: 'Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from Neuros…

Sep 1, 2025 · 9 shares · 771 followers View post →
Saks á phon3
@Phon3Saks · X

RT @aestheticprimal: the most interesting thing I've found after reviewing the paper: 'Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from Neuros…

Sep 1, 2025 · 9 shares · 412 followers View post →
Marco Perica
@PericaMarco · X

RT @aestheticprimal: the most interesting thing I've found after reviewing the paper: 'Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from Neuros…

Aug 31, 2025 · 9 shares · 57 followers View post →
_aestheticprimal_
@aestheticprimal · X

the most interesting thing I've found after reviewing the paper: 'Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from Neuroscience' medial-prefrontal cortex detects whether stress (low- energy environment) is escapable or inescapable does it think it is escapable? synaptic strength https://t.co/0juzBYTv6H

Aug 31, 2025 · 170 likes · 9 shares · 39,629 followers View post →
Neurodiversity Manitoba
@neurodiversitymb.bsky.social · Bluesky

Jul 24, 2025 · 2 likes · 1 share View post →
Влади в Нови Саде
@WladySpb · X

@pushkinistan Вот это прям подробное исследование на английском: "Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights From Neuroscience" Я его по диагонали читал, честно признаюсь) У Артура Шарифова хорошее видео про это, "Парадокс бессилия".

Jul 20, 2025 · 2 likes · 2,017 followers View post →
_aestheticprimal_
@aestheticprimal · X

@uberboyo I love the revision on Seligman his work on learned helplessness: https://t.co/Lg0vEyvzOh and almost anything about the mPFC as well rat studies on learned helplessness where they study efficiency of certain foods/supplements on ability to cure learned helplessness is

Jun 23, 2025 · 6 likes · 39,629 followers View post →
Dylan Foltz
@BoilingPb · X

@jeetsidhu_ @MorlockP Then drop the DOI in the text of the tweet, like 10.1037/rev0000033 The link shortener doesn't realize it's a link, it saves me the reader even more clicks, and turns up in search if you want to find other people here referencing it.

Jun 14, 2025 · 1 like · 258 followers View post →
▶️لقاء محمد
@qryAlGqzSP6fTs2 · X

RT @aestheticprimal: @karma_gardener https://t.co/Lg0vEyvzOh

May 7, 2025 · 1 share · 86 followers View post →
_aestheticprimal_
@aestheticprimal · X

@karma_gardener https://t.co/Lg0vEyvzOh

May 7, 2025 · 1 like · 1 share · 39,629 followers View post →
Andrei /\\ Moiseenko
@moiseenko_cy · X

@OsipovSimon Но если ты прям шаришь, то оригинал искать по Steven F. Maier, Martin E. P. Seligman, (2016). Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights From Neuroscience

Jan 19, 2025 · 1 like · 669 followers View post →
James Keebler
@finwe_usa · X

RT @finwe_usa: Learned helplessness at fifty: Insights from neuroscience. https://t.co/R71pGGfwsg

Nov 11, 2024 · 1 share · 858 followers View post →
James Keebler
@finwe_usa · X

Learned helplessness at fifty: Insights from neuroscience. https://t.co/R71pGGfwsg

Nov 11, 2024 · 1 share · 858 followers View post →
Herun
@_herun07 · X

Referensi: 1. Credit video: Atanassoff et al, 2014 PLOS ONE / CC BY 4.0 / Disconnected neurons. 2. Maier, S. F., & Seligman, M. E. (2016). Learned helplessness at fifty: Insights from neuroscience. Psychological review, 123(4), 349. 3. Hiroto, D. S., & Seligman, M. E. (1975).

Aug 22, 2024 · 8 likes · 24,193 followers View post →
Dr. Jorge Emerson
@DrJorgeEmerson1 · X

Fontes: Seligman, M.E.P. (1972). "Learned Helplessness". Annual Review of Medicine, 23, 407-412. Maier, S. F., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2016). "Learned helplessness at fifty: Insights from neuroscience". Psychological Review, 123(4), 349-367.

May 23, 2024 · 710 followers View post →
squintar
@squintar · X

@hubermanlab Hi there, I follow your podcast and wondered if you ever covered the subject of this paper : Maier SF, Seligman ME. Learned helplessness at fifty: Insights from neuroscience. Psychol Rev. 2016 Jul;123(4):349-67, or if it may be of interest to you. Thank you

Apr 1, 2024 · 3,536 followers View post →
David Ashley Davies
@DavidAshleyDavi · X

@PaisleyJanine @RageSheen It’s not *learned* helplessness anyway. The internet is full of articles citing Seligman and Maier (1967), ignoring five decades of subsequent work. Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from Neuroscience Steven F. Maier and Martin E. P. Seligman https://t.co/Wwcj7aCONk

Nov 2, 2023 · 1 like · 1,807 followers View post →
Ahmet Yigit Aktener, M.D.
@AhmetAktener · X

Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from Neuroscience - PMC https://t.co/ywlK01rYQj

Oct 29, 2023 · 17 followers View post →
Cмаленшчына анлайн
@ShtirliZ_ · X

@AvernoMishan @fkorobeynikov @max_katz ВБ - устаревшая концепция в психологии, описывающая психическое состояние, при котором живое существо не ощущает связи между своими действиями и их результатами Steven F. Maier, Martin E. P. Seligman, (2016). Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights From Neuroscience.

Oct 8, 2023 · 1 like · 580 followers View post →
Real Scientists DE
@realsci_DE · X

@lipipangstrumpf Das bezieht sich auf Erkenntnisse aus den letzten 50 JJahren. Hier ist ein spannender Überblick dazu. Die meisten Studien drehen sich darum Menschen oder Tiere unkontrolierbaren Stressoren auszusetzen & dann zu testen, wie sie auf kontrollierbare reagieren https://t.co/Tb1jjDNBm5

Apr 29, 2023 · 3 likes · 18,039 followers View post →
Real Scientists DE
@realsci_DE · X

@fyriann Wenn du nachlesen willst, ist hier ein toller Arikel dazu. "Dorsal Raphe Nucleus" ist der genauere Begriff. (es gibt mehrere kleine Kerne) https://t.co/Tb1jjDNBm5

Apr 29, 2023 · 1 like · 18,039 followers View post →
PetProfessionalGuild
@PetGuild · X

Scholarly Circle - Journal Review - A PPG Membership Benefit Paper: Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from Neuroscience, by Steven F. Maier & Martin E. P. Seligman Academic mentor: Dr. Kristina Spaulding Meeting: Mon, Jan 23, 10-11:30 AM ET Register: https://t.co/lzu6P9FMd4 https://t.co/2B7onLLrSq

Jan 18, 2023 · 5,875 followers View post →
PetProfessionalGuild
@PetGuild · X

Journal Review - A PPG Membership Benefit! Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from #neuroscience Join us for a 90 minute session to review this paper w/Dr. Kristina Spaulding. January 23, 2023 10:00 AM ET FMI: https://t.co/lzu6P9Xn4C #animalbehavior https://t.co/uUQNYipMqG

Nov 14, 2022 · 5,875 followers View post →
Niki Tudge
@DogSmithHQ · X

RT @PetGuild: A Journal Review - *A PPG Membership Benefit* Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from #neuroscience Monday, January 23…

Nov 10, 2022 · 1 share · 533 followers View post →
PetProfessionalGuild
@PetGuild · X

A Journal Review - *A PPG Membership Benefit* Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from #neuroscience Monday, January 23, 2023 10:00 AM ET Join us for a 90 minute session where we will review this paper w/ Dr. Kristina Spaulding. https://t.co/lzu6P9Xn4C #bookclub https://t.co/IDEgkcnYRx

Nov 10, 2022 · 1 like · 1 share · 5,875 followers View post →
/r/Neuroscience
@neuroreddit · X

Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from Neuroscience https://t.co/stzUhYd0h2

Aug 16, 2022 · 6 followers View post →
pauline déripoline
@PauliMdt · X

@dino_andreani @sbkaufman 2. the 2016 study (index 66 in the excerpt) are the conclusions reached with the development of neuroimaging: "Passivity in response to shock is not learned." https://t.co/NkFyPtLb53

Nov 4, 2020 · 1 like · 2,067 followers View post →
銀こんにゃくの勉強垢
@psy_rep · X

学習性無力感の誕生から50年が経ったことを記念して、セリグマンらが書いた論文。主に学習性無力感の神経面に焦点が当てられている。手綱核って脳部位、初めて見たな。 https://t.co/b3ydULue9T

Jul 2, 2019 · 1 like · 450 followers View post →