Research projects
PhD/MPhil projects
An investigation into the neural basis of depression and mechanisms of response to treatment
Abstract
This PhD uses neuroimaging techniques eg. structural, functional and pharmacoMRI to investigate:
- brain regions implicated in depressive symptoms in relation to emotional processing
- the effect of antidepressant treatment on a number of biological variables and brain regions
- biological differences in responders versus non responders to treatment. A further aim is to investigate the serotonin system and serotonin receptors by using direct citalopram pharmacoMRI in combination with a 5HT1A blocker in healthy volunteers.
Duration of the project
November 2007 - November 2010
Funding body
Members of the project
Dr Danilo Arnone | PhD student |
Professor Ian Anderson | Supervisor |
Key outputs
We predict:
- a pattern of neural responses in depression in key brain areas involved in emotional processing consistent with the possibility of a state marker
- a volumetric reduction in cortico-limbic areas in currently depressed participant with a possible normalisation of morphometric abnormalities with remission.