Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026
07:57
A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats
Published on: February 22, 2018
Common and distinct amygdala-function perturbations in depressed vs anxious adolescents
Katja Beesdo1, Jennifer Y F Lau, Amanda E Guyer
1Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Chemnitzer Strasse 46, Dresden, Germany. Katja.Beesdo@tu-dresden.de
Archives of General Psychiatry
|March 4, 2009
Summary
Adolescent major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety disorders show distinct amygdala responses to emotional faces. Attention influences these differences, highlighting common and unique neural patterns in these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Limited research directly compares amygdala function in adolescent depressive and anxiety disorders.
- Longitudinal studies highlight the need for comparative research in adolescent psychopathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare amygdala response to emotional facial expressions under varying attention conditions in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) or anxiety disorders versus healthy controls.
- Investigate how attention modulates amygdala reactivity in these adolescent groups.
Main Methods:
- Case-control study involving 87 adolescents (26 with MDD, 16 with anxiety disorders, 45 healthy controls).
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measured blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal in the amygdala.
- Participants viewed facial expressions (neutral, fearful, angry, happy) during constrained (ratings) and unconstrained (passive viewing) attention tasks.
Main Results:
- Significant group x emotion x attention interactions in amygdala activation were observed.
- Adolescents with MDD and anxiety disorders showed different amygdala responses to fearful faces compared to each other and healthy controls during passive viewing.
- Both MDD and anxiety groups exhibited similar amygdala hyperactivation to fearful faces when fear was subjectively rated, suggesting shared neural correlates.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent MDD and anxiety disorders share and exhibit distinct functional neural correlates in amygdala response during face processing.
- Attention plays a crucial role in modulating the manifestation of common or distinct amygdala alterations in these adolescent patient groups compared to healthy peers.
More Related Videos
13:08Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia
Published on: December 2, 2015
08:42Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression
Published on: May 19, 2015
Related Concept Videos
01:16Role of Amygdala in Memory
The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure responsible for processing and storing memories, particularly those linked to emotions like fear and stress. It plays an essential role in the brain's response to emotionally significant events and often enhances memory formation by triggering stress hormone release. The amygdala is vital for encoding and retrieving memories associated with fear or stress, a process that is adaptive by helping organisms avoid dangerous situations.
One of the...
One of the...
01:15Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System
The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...
01:18Depression: Overview
Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
01:18Anxiety: Overview
Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
01:28Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of social situations where one might face humiliation, rejection, embarrassment, or negative evaluation. This disorder leads individuals to avoid activities like casual conversations, public speaking, or seemingly simple tasks such as eating, signing documents, or swimming, in public settings. Its impact extends beyond discomfort, often significantly interfering with daily functioning and quality of life.
01:29Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects
Self-discrepancy theory explains how people compare their actual self to their ideal and ought selves and how mismatches between these self-guides can lead to emotional distress. Developed by E. Tory Higgins, the theory distinguishes among three components of self-concept: the actual self, the ideal self, and the ought self. These refer respectively to how individuals perceive themselves, how they aspire to be, and how they believe they are obligated to be. Emotional well-being, self-esteem,...