Neural bases for lateralised attentional neglect within chronically depressed populations

The proposed research aims to investigate the neural underpinnings of the correlation between lateralised attentional
disruption and anhedonia, in individuals living with a chronic depressive illness. This shall be achieved using a
conjunction of neuropsychological tests of visuospatial attention and fMRI methodology. Project objectives: (i) Seek to
replicate previously identified lateralised attentional biases within a chronically depressed population, within visual
modalities, whilst considering levels of anhedonic symptomology. (ii) Investigate potential differences in the neural
networks mediating stimulus-driven attention between a chronically depressed population and healthy controls. (iii) Gain
insight into patterns of responding for left-handed individuals, in both clinical and control populations. Component 1 In an
initial set of experiments, participants shall complete a variation of the Posner (1980) cueing task. Reaction time and
accuracy data shall be collected. Component 2 An event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
component, whereby the Posner (1980) variation shall be administered to participants whilst in the scanner. Reaction
time and accuracy data shall be collected, in addition to the acquisition of anatomical and functional fMRI data. Beck
Depression and Waterloo handedness inventories shall be administered, to account for episode severity and
handedness. Further scores shall be obtained for levels of anhedonia.