Studies done by Jennifer C. Albow, a professor of psychology, show that the responses in certain parts of depressed mothers’ brains are weaker than those of non-depressed mothers’. Albow not only studied the differences between the non-depressed and depressed mothers’ responses, but also looked at how these differences affect a child’s development.
Professor Albow used non-invasive fMRI to study these differences by using a magnetic field and radio frequency pulses to examine blood flow changes in the brain. The fMRI produced very thorough images showing the sites where reaction was highest, which supplies scientists with information about brain activity and allows them to identify any diseases.
All the mothers studied were first-time mothers with babies 18 months old, with varying levels and types of depression. Both clinically and chronically depressed mothers were studied, and their symptoms of depression also varied.
Heidemarie K. Laurent, the assistant professor at the University of Wyoming says, “it looks as though depressed mothers are not responding in a more negative way than non-depressed mothers, which has been one hypothesis.” Instead of a negative response, the depressed mothers just lack a positive response. In addition, the study showed that depressed mothers didn’t show a unique response, nor did they have a different responsive site; they just lacked response in areas where non-depressed mothers had response.
This is a significant discovery because it can show doctors and therapists reasons why a child may be depressed as well. For example, if children of depressed mothers are also depressed or have situational-related diseases that affect their ability to socialize normally with other people, this may lead doctors to figure out if the fact that they have a depressed mother, and were more neglected as a child, was the cause of their disease. This can help doctors give therapy and try to help the person overcome their disease, if possible. Also, it shows that depression affects everyone around the depressed individual, and this is important because it shows that depression needs to be dealt with, if not cured. Now that we have this information, will we be able to help depressed children all over the world?
Article Resource: University of Oregon. "Crying baby draws blunted response in depressed mom's brain."ScienceDaily 22 February 2011. 8 March 2011 <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110222140556.htm>.
This is a significant discovery because it can show doctors and therapists reasons why a child may be depressed as well. For example, if children of depressed mothers are also depressed or have situational-related diseases that affect their ability to socialize normally with other people, this may lead doctors to figure out if the fact that they have a depressed mother, and were more neglected as a child, was the cause of their disease. This can help doctors give therapy and try to help the person overcome their disease, if possible. Also, it shows that depression affects everyone around the depressed individual, and this is important because it shows that depression needs to be dealt with, if not cured. Now that we have this information, will we be able to help depressed children all over the world?
Article Resource: University of Oregon. "Crying baby draws blunted response in depressed mom's brain."ScienceDaily 22 February 2011. 8 March 2011 <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110222140556.htm>.
