Project Summary
Depression is a brain disease; specific patterns of brain activity therefore underlie depression. This application is aimed at identifying patterns of brain activity associated with depression, focusing on activity within and interactions between brain regions known to be involved in the regulation of mood. The specific role of these patterns of activity in depression will then be tested, by using an advanced technology that allows us to mimic and block these patterns and examine the resulting effects on behavior. The results of these experiments will improve our understanding of the brain basis of depression and guide future treatment studies.