Regional brain electrical asymmetries discriminate between previously depressed and healthy control subjects
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
Short Title:
J Abnorm Psychol
Format:
Journal Article
Publication Date:
1990/02//
Pages:
22 - 31
Sources ID:
24346
Collection:
Contemplative Sciences
Visibility:
Public (group default)
Abstract:
(Show)
Baseline resting electroencephalogram (EEG) activity was recorded from 6 normothymic depressives and 8 controls using three different reference montages. Power in all frequency bands was extracted by Fourier transformation. Significant Group X Region X Hemisphere interactions were found consistently for alpha band power only. Previously depressed subjects had less left-sided anterior and less right-sided posterior activation (i.e., more alpha activity) than did never depressed subjects. Previously depressed subjects had no history of pharmacological treatment and did not differ from controls in emotional state at the time of testing. The pattern of anterior and posterior asymmetry in the previously depressed subjects is similar to that found in acutely depressed subjects and suggests that this may be a state-independent marker for depression.