Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 20, 2026

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy
Published on: April 11, 2019
Association between hippocampal volume change and change in memory following electroconvulsive therapy in late-life
M Laroy1, F Bouckaert1,2, K Vansteelandt1
1KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Academic Center for ECT and Neuromodulation (AcCENT), University Psychiatric Center KU Leuven, Kortenberg, Belgium.
Objective:
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)-induced hippocampal volume change (HVC) has been repeatedly described in recent years. The similar time course of HVC and ECT-related cognitive effects suggest a relation, that is to date, understudied. This study investigates whether HVC following ECT predicts the change in memory performance six months after the end of the ECT treatment.
Methods:
Hippocampal volume (HV) was measured via high-resolution 3D T1-weighted images in 88 patients with late-life depression, within 1 week before and after ECT. Memory performance was assessed before and six months after ECT. Multiple linear regression was used to examine whether change in memory performance could be predicted based on ECT-induced changes in HV.
Results:
Larger right absolute HVC predicts less pronounced improvement on the VAT (visual memory) in the whole sample. For the 8-Word Test (verbal memory), Category Fluency Test (semantic memory), and MMSE, the effect is only present in patients who switched from right unilateral to bitemporal stimulation after six ECT sessions. Absolute HVC in the left hemisphere was not significantly related to cognitive change.
Conclusion:
A larger absolute change in right HV during ECT is associated with less improvement in memory performance up to 6 months post-ECT.
Related Concept Videos
Work Done During Volume Change
Consider a gas confined to a cylinder fitted with a movable piston at one end. If the gas expands from volume V1 to volume V2, it exerts a force on the piston, such that the piston moves by a distance dr.
The work done by the gas on the piston can be expressed as
Unsoundness of Aggregate due to Volume Change
Le Chatelier's Principle: Changing Volume (Pressure)
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Global Climate Change
Net Change Theorem

