Abstract: 

Depression is a type of mood disorder characterised by chronic sadness and anxiety.  Unipolar depression consists of depressive episodes only, while bipolar disorder consists of depressive episodes as well as manic, hypomanic or mixed episodes.

The exact causes of depression are unknown, but it is thought to involve the limbic system in the brain, in particular the parabrachial nucleus, locus coeruleus and raphe nuclei.  The parabrachial nucleus is thought to be the link between the vestibular nucleus and the limbic system, and all three areas have a bidirectional link between the vestibular nucleus. 

This study seeks to clarify the effects of bidirectional links between the vestibular nucleus with the parabrachial nucleus, locus coeruleus and raphe nuclei have on vestibular response.  This will be done using non-invasive Electrovestibulography (EVestG) technologies. 

<>As the diagnosis of depression is subjective, EVestG is proposed to be able to provide an objective diagnosis of depression through these links as well measuring the effect of treatment on depressive patients, in particular the effectiveness of the experimental procedure, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).   This will hopefully provide a basis for establishing these procedures into a clinical environment.

About the Speaker: Amber is a postgraduate research student with the Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering at Monash University