29.3.09

Depression linked to brain structure

"Scientists who have been following families with a history of depression have found structural differences in family member's brains - specifically, a significant thinning of the right cortex, the brain's outermost surface".

Link to article on structural differences in the right and left cerebral hemispheres of people with a family history of depression.



  Left cerebral hemisphere               Right cerebral hemisphere

Have a look at the the brain images above. They represent the right cerebral hemisphere and the left cerebral hemisphere. Blue and purple indicate tissue loss - thinning - green no tissue loss. The research compared the brains of people with a history of depression in their family - the high risk group, with the brains of people with no history of depression - the low risk group.

What can you tell about the difference in brain structure between the high risk group and low risk group?

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