Right hemisphere sensitivity to arousal and depression.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology

Background:

• Evidence suggests impaired right hemisphere function in depression.
• Lateralized reaction time tasks show deficits in left visual field responses in depressed individuals and those with depressed mood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if depression impairs right hemisphere function by interfering with arousal and vigilance mechanisms.
• To test the hypothesis using mood suggestions and a reaction time task sensitive to right posterior brain damage.

Main Methods:

• Subjects received depression or relaxation mood suggestions.
• An uncued reaction time task was used, with alertness varied by warning tones.
• Performance was assessed based on left visual field responses.

Main Results:

• Depressed mood slowed left visual field responses, but only in women.
• This effect was significant in uncued blocks, indicating impaired arousal.
• Left visual field impairment was greater in depression than relaxation, with some slowing also observed in relaxed women.

Conclusions:

• Depression appears to interfere with right hemisphere function, potentially through arousal mechanisms.
• Findings suggest a specific impact on women's right hemisphere arousal during depressed mood.
• Mood manipulation can influence cognitive performance related to hemispheric function.