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The oft‐neglected role of parietal EEG asymmetry and risk for major depressive disorder
Author(s) -
Stewart Jennifer L.,
Towers David N.,
Coan James A.,
Allen John J. B.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2010.01035.x
Subject(s) - psychology , electroencephalography , arousal , anxiety , major depressive disorder , depression (economics) , comorbidity , anxiety disorder , parietal lobe , clinical psychology , audiology , developmental psychology , neuroscience , psychiatry , mood , medicine , economics , macroeconomics
Relatively less right parietal activity may reflect reduced arousal and signify risk for major depressive disorder (MDD). Inconsistent findings with parietal electroencephalographic (EEG) asymmetry, however, suggest issues such as anxiety comorbidity and sex differences have yet to be resolved. Resting parietal EEG asymmetry was assessed in 306 individuals (31% male) with ( n =143) and without ( n =163) a DSM‐IV diagnosis of lifetime MDD and no comorbid anxiety disorders. Past MDD+ women displayed relatively less right parietal activity than current MDD+ and MDD− women, replicating prior work. Recent caffeine intake, an index of arousal, moderated the relationship between depression and EEG asymmetry for women and men. Findings suggest that sex differences and arousal should be examined in studies of depression and regional brain activity.