2024-01-16 21:25:23
A group of scientists at the American University of California may finally have solved the long-standing mystery behind the effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy, which involves inducing a controlled seizure at a point in the brain by passing electrical currents, which is what makes this treatment particularly effective in Treating mental disorders, including depression, which is one of the most common mental and behavioral disorders in the world.
In Recent research Published in the journal Translational Psychiatry, researchers propose an unusual new hypothesis that holds that ECT alleviates symptoms of depression by increasing aperiodic activity in the brain, a type of electrical activity that lacks a consistent pattern and is related to “background brain noise.” .
The term “brain background noise” usually refers to innate or intrinsic neural activity that occurs in the brain even in the absence of external stimuli, and this persistent neural activity is often measured using techniques such as electroencephalography or functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Despite its effectiveness, ECT has gained a negative reputation due to historical portrayal of it as painful, high-voltage shocks. However, the modern procedure uses highly controlled doses of electricity and is administered under anesthesia, making it safer and less traumatic than portrayed.
The success rate of ECT is up to 80% in patients, with some drawbacks including temporary confusion, cognitive impairment, and the need for repeated treatment sessions.
In their work, the researchers used electroencephalography (EEG) technology to examine brain activity in patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy to treat depression. They also investigated a similar treatment called magnetic seizure therapy, which stimulates seizures using magnets instead of electrodes. Both treatments resulted in increased levels of acyclic activity in patients’ brains after treatment.
As a result, scientists believe that non-periodic activity associated with brain background noise plays a crucial role in improving brain performance, and researchers suggest that electroconvulsive therapy helps restore these functions in depressed individuals, especially by enhancing inhibitory activity in the brain.
While these findings demonstrate a link between sedentary activity and the benefits of ECT, the researchers stress the need for further studies, and are looking to investigate the potential use of sedentary activity as a measure to evaluate the effectiveness of other depression treatments, including medications.
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