Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Depressive Disorders: Etiology01:27

Depressive Disorders: Etiology

Depressive disorders result from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors, each contributing uniquely to the development and persistence of the condition. Understanding these factors provides critical insight into the multifaceted nature of depression.
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia01:27

Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia

Depressive disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by pervasive feelings of sadness, diminished pleasure in life, and a significant impact on daily functioning. These conditions are most prevalent in individuals during their 30s and affect women at twice the rate of men. Contrary to popular belief, younger individuals are generally more susceptible to these disorders than older adults. Two key types of depressive disorders include Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and...
Depression: Overview01:18

Depression: 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,...
G-protein Coupled Receptors01:21

G-protein Coupled Receptors

G-protein coupled receptors are ligand binding receptors that indirectly affect changes in the cell. The actual receptor is a single polypeptide that transverses the cell membrane seven times creating intracellular and extracellular loops. The extracellular loops create a ligand specific pocket which binds to neurotransmitters or hormones. The intracellular loops holds onto the G-protein.
Long-term Depression01:05

Long-term Depression

Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Long-term Depression01:03

Long-term Depression

Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

<i>Wolbachia</i> -induced cytoplasmic incompatibility produces heritable chromatin modifications that suppress position-effect variegation.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Real-World Response and Super-Response to Eptinezumab over 48 Weeks in Migraine: The Prospective Multicenter EMBRACE III Study.

Neurology and therapy·2026
Same author

Infertility in women with asthma - does asthma also exist in the uterus?

Respiratory medicine·2026
Same author

Wolbachia-induced Cytoplasmic Incompatibility drives epigenetic and maternally-influenced post-embryonic defects.

PLoS pathogens·2026
Same author

<i>Wolbachia</i>-induced Cytoplasmic Incompatibility drives epigenetic and maternally-influenced post-embryonic defects.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

NLRP3 and CCR1 drive offspring asthma susceptibility following maternal RSV infection.

International immunopharmacology·2026
Same journal

Gelastic dysarthria: Speech-triggered pathological laughter with evidence for a selective pontine gating mechanism.

Brain and cognition·2026
Same journal

Brain correlates of linguistic-cognitive stimulation in neurotypical and Atypical older adult populations: A systematic review.

Brain and cognition·2026
Same journal

Effects of Dieting on Neural Encoding of Preferences for Edible and Non-Edible Rewards: An ERP Study.

Brain and cognition·2026
Same journal

Structural complexity of brain regions in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

Brain and cognition·2026
Same journal

Spatial navigation training enhances performance on large-scale and small-scale spatial tasks through different neural mechanisms.

Brain and cognition·2026
Same journal

Unraveling the link between brain injury and enhanced artistic skills.

Brain and cognition·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Individualized rTMS Treatment for Depression using an fMRI-Based Targeting Method
07:12

Individualized rTMS Treatment for Depression using an fMRI-Based Targeting Method

Published on: August 2, 2021

Increased spreading activation in depression.

Paul S Foster1, Raegan C Yung, Kaylei K Branch

  • 1Psychology Department, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, United States. pfoster@mtsu.edu

Brain and Cognition
|September 6, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Depression may increase spreading activation in semantic networks, contrary to previous findings. This study suggests a link between higher depression scores and enhanced cognitive flexibility, potentially impacting creativity.

More Related Videos

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression
08:42

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression

Published on: May 19, 2015

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats
07:57

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats

Published on: February 22, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 29, 2026

Individualized rTMS Treatment for Depression using an fMRI-Based Targeting Method
07:12

Individualized rTMS Treatment for Depression using an fMRI-Based Targeting Method

Published on: August 2, 2021

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression
08:42

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression

Published on: May 19, 2015

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats
07:57

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats

Published on: February 22, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • The dopaminergic system plays a role in depressive disorders.
  • Dopamine's role in constricting semantic networks via reduced spreading activation is known.
  • Depression, linked to dopamine reduction, might involve increased spreading activation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between depression and spreading activation.
  • To explore if depression is associated with increased spreading activation using a novel word frequency paradigm.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a word frequency-based paradigm to assess spreading activation.
  • Sample comprised 97 undergraduates.
  • Assessed depression using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II); cognitive tasks included the Controlled Oral Word Association test and Animal Naming test.

Main Results:

  • Individuals scoring in the depressed range on the BDI-II exhibited greater spreading activation.
  • This contrasts with previous research using semantic priming paradigms.
  • Findings suggest a difference in spreading activation between depressed and non-depressed groups.

Conclusions:

  • Depression may be associated with increased spreading activation, potentially via altered dopaminergic pathways.
  • The findings challenge previous research and suggest a novel perspective on cognitive processing in depression.
  • Implications for creativity in individuals experiencing depression are discussed.