A social defeat model to identify neural markers of human depression vulnerability

2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07723
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: ホドリゲス アレン・デ・ソウザ 広島大学, 脳・こころ・感性科学研究センター, 特任助教 (90865031)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: social personality / trust / depression / social cognition / brain structure / disease prediction

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

At the psychological side of the project, we analyzed the predictability of social personality and depressive symptoms and their neuroanatomical basis. We found that participants who reported low trust showed a higher tendency to develop depressive symptoms. Analyzes of brain structure revealed that the brain of low trusts was similar to the brain of depressive patients, with reduced volume of brain regions implicated in social cognition.

Current Status of Research Progress

3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.

Reason

Due the covid pandemic, we were unable to recruit participants from the general population to run this experiment. However, with the recent low restrictions by the government we have started to reorganize our schedule, booking the fMRI scanner for experiments and will start to recruit participants.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

Continue to analyze the relationship between social personality, depression and brain structure. Conduct fMRI experiments with human subjects.

Causes of Carryover

Two fMRI experiments will be performed and the amount will be used to purchase materials and reward participants' participation.