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Regional brain changes in bipolar I depression: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Lori Altshuler1, Susan Bookheimer, Jennifer Townsend
1Department of Psychiatry, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles Healthcare Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA. laltshuler@mednet.ucla.edu
Bipolar Disorders
|October 8, 2008
Summary
Bipolar depression shows altered brain activity in the orbitofrontal cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. These functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) findings suggest distinct neural patterns in bipolar disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Brain Imaging
Background:
- Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by alternating periods of mania and depression.
- Neural activity in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala is implicated in mood regulation and has been studied in bipolar disorder.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate neural activity in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala during bipolar depression using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
Main Methods:
- Eleven bipolar I depressed subjects and 17 normal controls underwent fMRI.
- Subjects performed tasks involving face emotion matching (match condition) and geometric form matching (control condition).
- Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) was used to analyze whole-brain activation patterns.
Main Results:
- Bipolar depressed subjects showed attenuated activation in the right and left orbitofrontal cortex (BA47) and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) (BA9).
- Increased activation was observed in the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex (BA10) in bipolar depressed subjects compared to controls.
- While controls showed significant amygdala activation, this was not significant in bipolar depressed subjects, though the between-group difference was not significant.
Conclusions:
- Bipolar depression is associated with specific patterns of attenuated and heightened prefrontal cortex activation.
- Orbitofrontal cortex (BA47) hypoactivation may be a trait marker for bipolar disorder, present in both depression and mania.
- Heightened left prefrontal (BA10) activation could be a state marker specific to bipolar depression, suggesting mood-dependent and disease-dependent brain abnormalities.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Brain Imaging
Brain imaging technologies provide critical insights into both the structure and function of the human brain, enabling medical professionals and researchers to diagnose, study, and treat neurological disorders or psychiatric disorders more effectively.
These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
01:30Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition marked by significant mood fluctuations, including episodes of mania and depression. Elevated energy levels, heightened mood or irritability, impulsive behavior, reduced sleep needs, rapid speech, racing thoughts, inflated self-esteem, and distractibility characterize mania. Individuals with bipolar disorder often alternate between depressive and manic states, with periods of emotional stability lasting an average of six months to a year.