Neuroimaging and Depression: Current Status and Unresolved Issues
Abstract
Major depression is among the most debilitating, prevalent, and recurrent of all psychiatric disorders. Over the past decade, investigators have examined the neural mechanisms associated with this disorder. In this article we present an overview of neuroimaging research that has assessed the structure and functioning of the amygdala, subgenual anterior cingulate cortex, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in major depression. We then describe results of studies that have attempted to elucidate the nature of the relations among these brain structures. The picture that emerges from these investigations is one in which heightened activity in limbic structures that underlie the experience and expression of emotion dampens activation in dorsal cortical structures that are involved in affect regulation, reducing their ability to influence limbic activation. We conclude by highlighting unresolved issues concerning the roles of these structures in depression and their relation to specific symptoms of this disorder.
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Clinical depression is marked by structural and functional changes in subgenual anterior cingulate cortex, although it involves many symptoms beyond sadness.
“Clinical depression is marked by structural and functional changes in sACC (see Gotlib & Hamilton 2008 for a review), although clinical depression involves many symptoms above and beyond the experience of sadness (Coyne 1994).”
From The brain basis of emotion: a meta-analytic review (2012) · cites this paper as Gotlib & Hamilton 2008
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- Authors
- Gotlib, I. H., & Hamilton, J. P.
- Affiliations
- Stanford University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Gotlib, Ian H.
- Hamilton, J. Paul
- Venue
- Current Directions in Psychological Science
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2008-04
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 159-163
- ISSN
- 0963-7214 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-8721
- OpenAlex
- W2161781433
- Cited by
- 134
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 4.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Current Directions in Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- major depressive disorder, amygdala, subgenual anterior cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, limbic system, emotion regulation, neurobiology of depression, emotional processing, brain structure-function relationship
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