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Alertness and visuospatial attention in clinical depression
Lisa Schock1, Michael Schwenzer, Walter Sturm
1Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. lschock@ukaachen.de
BMC Psychiatry
|May 11, 2011
Summary
Cognitive deficits in depression may stem from impaired alertness affecting visuospatial attention. Lower alertness is linked to poorer performance in the left visual field, suggesting a rightward spatial bias.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Cognitive deficits are a significant burden in clinical depression.
- This study investigates right-hemispheric attention network dysfunction in depression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between alertness, visuospatial attention, and depression.
- To explore potential mechanisms underlying cognitive deficits in depressive patients.
Main Methods:
- 16 depressive patients and 16 healthy controls completed computerized visuospatial attention and alertness tests.
Main Results:
- No significant group differences were found.
- Alertness predicted reduced visuospatial performance in the left hemifield.
- Sad mood trended towards predicting left visual field omissions.
Conclusions:
- Decreased alertness may impair left hemifield visuospatial attention.
- This could explain the rightward spatial bias observed in depression.
- Treating depression and anxiety may alleviate these cognitive deficits.
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