Sentence:  Important as these differences are , they should not obscure the basic fact that by shifting the hypothalamic balance sufficiently to the parasympathetic side , we produce depressions , whereas a shift in the opposite direction <WSD>causes</WSD> excitatory effects and , eventually , maniclike changes . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally