cpozdnik

Depression doesn’t just change the way we think and feel — it also changes the structure and function of our brain. Less efficient communication across brain regions may explain significant symptoms of depression that negatively affect problem-solving, memory, and emotional regulation. These changes are brain-wide — but, possibly, reversible with treatment. The authors of the current paper were wondering if brain-wide changes in structure or function could predict whether someone with treatment-resistant depression will respond to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). This is important because if researchers could predict who would benefit from treatment using these brain-based measures, clinical treatments can be more efficient and personalized to what an individual is most likely to respond to.