Researchers from Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul have mapped the brain areas linked to rumination, the pattern of returning to the same negative thoughts that can fuel depression and anxiety. The findings appear in Nature Communications.
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, scientists pinpointed the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex as a key region involved in rumination. This area seems to play a central role in how internal thoughts are generated and maintained.
Further analysis showed that the DMP interacts with nearby networks, including the left inferior frontal gyrus and the right temporoparietal junction. These regions are tied to speech processing and evaluating social situations, suggesting that self-talk and social appraisal processes contribute to rumination dynamics.
In patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder, the model could predict the level of depressive symptoms based on brain activity during rumination. The research implies a link between how the brain ruminates and clinical depression, highlighting a potential biomarker pathway for mood disorders.
Lead author Chun-Wan Wu explained that rumination is a prominent pattern of thought. The study demonstrates that brain connections measured with fMRI can reveal an individual’s tendency to dwell on negative ideas. The researchers hope neuroimaging will eventually help monitor and manage mental health in clinical settings.
Earlier research has also explored how depression relates to responses to criticism, particularly in women, underscoring that social feedback can influence mood and cognitive patterns in vulnerable individuals. This study adds a neural perspective to those observations and points toward integrated approaches to treatment and prevention.