Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Mental Health

Hyperactivity of brain regions observed during ruminative thinking in teens recovering from depression

by Roberta Jenkins
August 15, 2017
in Mental Health
Illustration of brain regions studied in mental illness: ACC, amygdala, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex. (Photo credit: NIH)

Illustration of brain regions studied in mental illness: ACC, amygdala, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex. (Photo credit: NIH)

[Subscribe to PsyPost on YouTube to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in psychology and neuroscience]

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The process of rumination activates additional regions of the brain in adolescents recovering from major depressive disorder compared to healthy adolescents, according to a study recently published in Cognitive Affective and Behavioural Neuroscience.

Adolescents diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) suffer with many distressing outcomes including increased risk of suicide, increased likelihood of being hospitalized and abnormal social functioning in areas such as school, work and family relationships. Adolescents with a history of MDD have a 40% chance of relapse within 2 years. It is therefore important to identify common risk factors associated with adolescents in remission from MDD to improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying relapse.

Rumination is a persistent pattern of negative thinking characterized by continued reflective and uncontrollable emotion. Previously, research has suggested that rumination is associated with increased severity of depressive symptoms in adults and also plays an important role in MDD relapse. However, little research has been carried out that investigates the effect of rumination on adolescents in remission from MDD, which is surprising because this is a sub-population of people particularly vulnerable to relapse.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Exeter, UK used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the neural mechanisms behind rumination in adolescents in remission from MDD (rMDD). 26 rMDD adolescents and 15 healthy participants completed a task that induced rumination, as well as a distraction task whilst undergoing MRI.

The results showed that during the rumination task all participants engaged regions in the default mode network, which is an area of highly interactive brain regions including the posterior cingulate cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, inferior parietal lobe and medial temporal gyrus. Activation of these areas during rumination was linked to self-reported rumination and depressive symptoms in all participants. However, rMDD adolescents displayed greater activation in visual, sensory and emotion processing brain regions compared to healthy controls.

Overall, the study suggests that increased activation of visual, sensory and emotion processing regions is an important difference between rumination in rMDD adolescents and healthy controls. Activation of these areas during the rumination task was associated with an increase depressive symptoms, suggesting that recruitment of such areas in rumination could be a risk factor for relapse in adolescents with MDD.

ShareTweetSendScanShareSharePinSend

STAY CONNECTED

TRENDING

Toxoplasma gondii parasite infection linked to cognitive deterioration in schizophrenia

People are less satisfied with their marriage when their partner is not interested in social interactions, study finds

Narcissism and mental health in relationships: Surprising results revealed in new psychology study

Sleep effort mediates the relationship between anxiety and depression, study finds

New research shows link between tropical vacations and improved mental health

Pro-female and anti-male biases are more influential than race and other factors in Implicit Association Tests

RECENT

Are you a frequent apologizer? New research indicates you might actually reap downstream benefits

Pro-female and anti-male biases are more influential than race and other factors in Implicit Association Tests

Toxoplasma gondii parasite infection linked to cognitive deterioration in schizophrenia

New research shows link between tropical vacations and improved mental health

Narcissism and mental health in relationships: Surprising results revealed in new psychology study

Sleep effort mediates the relationship between anxiety and depression, study finds

Masks hinder our ability to recognize facial expressions of sadness and fear

New research suggests populism and conspiracy mentality are both rooted in a fundamental disposition of distrust

Currently Playing

Are you a frequent apologizer? New research indicates you might actually reap downstream benefits

Are you a frequent apologizer? New research indicates you might actually reap downstream benefits

Are you a frequent apologizer? New research indicates you might actually reap downstream benefits

Social Psychology
People with dark personality traits are better at finding novel ways to cause damage or harm others

People with dark personality traits are better at finding novel ways to cause damage or harm others

Dark Triad
Exercising in nature produces psychological benefits and measurable changes in brain activity

Exercising in nature produces psychological benefits and measurable changes in brain activity

Cognitive Science
People with social anxiety tend to engage in restrictive “safety behaviors” that make them less likable, study finds

People with social anxiety tend to engage in restrictive “safety behaviors” that make them less likable, study finds

Anxiety
Study helps untangle the complicated relationship between psychopathy and emotional awareness

Study helps untangle the complicated relationship between psychopathy and emotional awareness

Psychopathy
People exposed to phubbing by their romantic partner are less satisfied with their romantic relationship

People exposed to phubbing by their romantic partner are less satisfied with their romantic relationship

Relationships and Sexual Health
  • Cognitive Science
  • COVID-19
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Drug Research
  • Conspiracy Theories
  • Meditation
  • Psychology of Religion
  • Aviation Psychology and Human Factors
  • Relationships and Sexual Health
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Psychedelic Drugs
  • Dark Triad
  • Political Psychology

About

PsyPost is a psychology and neuroscience news website dedicated to reporting the latest research on human behavior, cognition, and society. (READ MORE...)

  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used.