Frontal EEG asymmetry moderates the effects of stressful life events on internalizing symptoms in children at familial risk for depression

This study examined whether frontal alpha electroencephalographic (EEG) asymmetry moderates the association between stressful life events and depressive symptoms in children at familial risk for depression. Participants included 135 children ages 6 to 13, whose mothers had either a history of depres...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychophysiology 2012-04, Vol.49 (4), p.510-521
Main Authors: Lopez-Duran, Nestor L., Nusslock, Robin, George, Charles, Kovacs, Maria
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Age
Alpha Rhythm - physiology
Asymmetry
Beta Rhythm - physiology
Brain
Brain asymmetry
Check lists
Child
Child depression
Children
Children & youth
Data Interpretation, Statistical
Depression
Depression - genetics
Depression - psychology
EEG
Electroencephalography
Emotions - physiology
Female
Frontal Lobe - physiology
Functional Laterality - physiology
Humans
Life Change Events
Life stressors
Male
Mental depression
Neuropsychological Tests
Physiological psychology
Risk
Risk Factors
Risk groups
Stress
Theta Rhythm - physiology
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Summary:This study examined whether frontal alpha electroencephalographic (EEG) asymmetry moderates the association between stressful life events and depressive symptoms in children at familial risk for depression. Participants included 135 children ages 6 to 13, whose mothers had either a history of depression or no history of major psychiatric conditions. Frontal EEG was recorded while participants watched emotion‐eliciting films. Symptoms and stressful life events were obtained via the Child Behavior Check List and a clinical interview, respectively. High‐risk children displayed greater relative right lateral frontal activation (F7/F8) than their low‐risk peers during the films. For high‐risk children, greater relative left lateral frontal activation moderated the association between stressful life events and internalizing symptoms. Specifically, greater relative left lateral frontal activation mitigated the effects of stress in at‐risk children.
ISSN:0048-5772
1469-8986
1540-5958
DOI:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2011.01332.x