What makes the whole world seem dull and gloomy if you are depressed is the reduced ability to perceive contrast, say experts.
The researchers ran an electrode along one eye in each of 40 people with depression, and 40 people without.
Depression
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders affecting approximately 340 million people in the world. No one is immune from depression - it occurs in people of all social classes, all countries and all cultural settings.
Advertisement
The electrodes measured activity in the nerves connecting photoreceptors - which detect different aspects of light - to the optic nerve, but not the brain.
They were made to see black and white chequered screen, which became greyer in six distinct stages, reducing the contrast between each square. Each stage was presented for 10 seconds, and the experiment was repeated over an hour.
![Adolescent Depression]( "Adolescent Depression")
Adolescent depression is an ailment that occurs during the teenage characterized by persistent melancholy, disappointment and loss of self-esteem.
The team found that electrical signals to the optic nerve were lower in people with depression.
For example, when viewing the stage containing black and white squares, healthy volunteers had three times the nerve activity of those with depression, indicating that depression diminishes the ability to detect contrast.
The more severe a person's depression, the worse their perception of contrast.
Mathew Martin-Iverson of University of Western Australia said this could be because the neurotransmitters, which regulate nerve activity in vision, could also be involved in emotion, reports the New Scientist.
Emanuel Bubl of University of Freiburg said that a similar technique could be used to aid diagnosis of clinical depression.
Source: ANI
Adolescent Depression
Adolescent depression is an ailment that occurs during the teenage characterized by persistent melancholy, disappointment and loss of self-esteem.
Advertisement
The team found that electrical signals to the optic nerve were lower in people with depression.
For example, when viewing the stage containing black and white squares, healthy volunteers had three times the nerve activity of those with depression, indicating that depression diminishes the ability to detect contrast.
The more severe a person's depression, the worse their perception of contrast.
Mathew Martin-Iverson of University of Western Australia said this could be because the neurotransmitters, which regulate nerve activity in vision, could also be involved in emotion, reports the New Scientist.
Emanuel Bubl of University of Freiburg said that a similar technique could be used to aid diagnosis of clinical depression.
Source: ANI
Foods to Beat Depression
Depression can be a severe mental health problem that can lead to other health issues. Find top foods that can help fight depression.
Advertisement
 Depression Screening TestOnline Depression Screening Test tells if you have mild or chronic depression based on your depression symptoms. Learn how to deal with depression by using this self-assessment calculator. | Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Recommended Readings
Latest Mental Health News
Studying brain circuits tied to PTSD's progression from acute to chronic states is vital for grasping its pathophysiology and crafting targeted treatments.
Older adults with COPD were roughly twice as likely to develop depression if they faced functional limitations.
In most scenarios, depression screening tools demonstrated superior performance compared to suicide risk screenings.
Experts suggest that identifying the distinctive traits specific to obsessive-compulsive disorder can aid individuals in comprehending the mental health disorder.
Electroencephalogram (EEG), which tracks the electrical activity in the brain, can help in the early identification and prevention of depression.
