| Objective The aim of this study was to assess working memory profile and brain electrical physiology in patients with depression by comparing depression patients with healthy comparison subjects.Methods Study subjects were27patients without taking any psychotropic medicine in2months prior to assessing and meeting with CCMD-3criteria for first episode depression, and30healthy comparison subjects matching cases on age, gender and educational level.The severity of depressive symptoms was evaluated by Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (17-items).Through working memory span tests, memory processing level tests, integrated visual and auditory continuous performance tests, STOORP effects and distinguishing facial expression methods, the author sought to evaluate vocabulary words understanding, implementing related instruction, keeping attention, exploring information, recognition ability, anti-interference ability and information processing and memory durability. The brain electrical data of14cases and14controls were analyzed.Results (1) Working memory span in depression patients was significantly lower than the control group(P<0.05), the difference in the level2and level3is the most obvious; In the memory processing level tests, numbers of identifying the old words and new ones were significantly lower than the control group,(P<0.01);In the integrated visual and auditory continuous performance tests and STOORP effects, the results were all significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05or P<0.01).The total accuracy of distinguishing facial expressions was significantly lower than the control group(P<0.01), especially in identifying fear and sadness.(2) Compared information transmission and response time change between the case and the control in the quiet condition and psychological load condition, the result showed that in the quiet condition,the attenuation intensity of keeping information in F3(left frontal), F4(right frontal), C4(central) area increased significantly than the control group, and the transmission reaction period extended. Those made no difference in psychological load condition.The brain electrical information transmission and response time changes in the patients in the psychological load state differed significantly from those in the control group in right temporal region, the forehead and the right frontal area(P<0.05).Conclusion (1)The dysfunction of working memory capacity had been noted in depression patients.(2) The capacity of working memory was influenced by attention and emotional state of the depression patients.(3) The brain electrical characteristic parameter analysis shows that in psychological load state, depression patients brain electrical information transmission and response time changed in the right temporal region, the forehead and the right frontal area, indicating that the outer cortex of left frontal lobe may be impaired or have dysfunction. |
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