A team from the Higher School of Biomedical Systems and Technologies at St. Petersburg Polytechnic University has identified statistically significant differences in how different brain regions interact in healthy individuals compared with those who have depression. This work lays the groundwork for a robust, instrument-based method to diagnose mental illnesses with objective measures. The university shared these insights with socialbites.ca for broader discussion.
Depressive disorders remain among the leading causes of disability and mortality worldwide. Ongoing research across the globe seeks reliable instrumental techniques to diagnose depression and other neuropsychiatric conditions. This pursuit reflects a shared aim in the medical community to move beyond symptom reporting toward measurable biomarkers that can support timely and accurate treatment decisions.
Research shows that brain state changes occur not only in depression but in a range of mental and neurological disorders. Electroencephalography, or EEG, captures real-time brain activity and offers a window into functional brain states. Yet, until now, a definitive link between specific EEG patterns and particular diseases has remained elusive.
In this study, EEG data were collected from twenty-one healthy volunteers and nine individuals diagnosed with depression. The analysis revealed meaningful differences in inter-channel interactions among various brain regions when comparing the two groups. These differences suggest a potential path toward an objective diagnostic parameter for depression and related conditions.
Among the notable findings, researchers observed a reduction in interhemispheric connections within the occipital regions in the delta frequency band among those with depression. They also noted an increase in right-side, intrahemispheric connections linking the parietal and temporal areas within the theta band. Additionally, a decrease in frontal interhemispheric connections was detected in the alpha band, along with several other changes in the brain’s network dynamics.
Experts emphasize that while certain morphological shifts in specific brain regions appear in depression and other disorders, reversing these changes entirely may be difficult after they occur. Yet early diagnosis offers a critical advantage. The development of a clear, objective diagnostic parameter could enable clinicians to catch the disease earlier and implement timely interventions. Olga Vlasova, director of the Higher School of Biomedical Systems and Technologies at St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, highlighted this point in discussing the implications of the findings. Source: SPbPU.
The researchers plan to expand the data set to strengthen the evidence base. A larger sample would support the creation of a universal, objective tool capable of diagnosing depression and possibly a broader range of neurological and psychiatric conditions. This future effort aims to provide clinicians with a reliable biomarker-driven approach that complements clinical assessments and patient history.
In related discussion, some experts note that subtle signs of brain cancer can resemble symptoms observed in depression. Recognizing such overlap underscores the importance of precise, objective measures in distinguishing mood disorders from other neurological issues, and it reinforces the value of ongoing research in this area. Source: SPbPU.