Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) can Treat Depression by Changing the Structure and Function of our Brains
Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) is similar to rTMS: it is a safe, painless, effective, and non-invasive way to treat even severe depression that hasn’t improved with antidepressants. MST also uses a device placed on the scalp to deliver a magnetic field that disrupts the brain’s electrical activity. However, MST is stronger. In fact, it is intended to elicit a closely-monitored seizure that is then thought to rewire the brain for the better. The researchers of the current study were wondering if changes in the brain structure (size) and function (activity) were related to improvements in depression after MST.
Memory-Related Regions of the Brain Function Differently in Those with Treatment-Resistant Depression
Depression doesn’t just affect the way people feel, it also affects the way people think. Specifically, a lot of people with depression notice that their memory might have become worse: they may have difficulty studying for school exams, misplace their things, or forgetting what they needed from the store. Many studies have looked into why this might be, looking particularly at the structure of our brain’s memory center, but not its function. The researchers of the current study were wondering if changes in the brain structure (size) and function (activity) were related to differences in memory among people with treatment-resistant depression, when compared to those without.