Future seem gloomy – or full of promise?  A new study suggests that specific parts of our brain may be hard-wired for optimism.  It found that portions of the brain (the rostral anterior cingulate cortex) are consistently activated in response to thinking “positive thoughts.”  Which might give a bit more credence to the anecdotal evidence we’ve heard for years from various self-help groups.  You can read the abstract here, or this brief mention in the Boston Globe here.