RELATIVE RIGHT FRONTAL EEG ACTIVATION IN 3-MONTH-OLD TO 6-MONTH-OLD INFANTS OF DEPRESSED MOTHERS

Brain electrical activity (electroencephalogram; EEG) was recorded fro m left and right frontal (F) and parietal (P) scalp regions (F3, F4, P 3, and P4, referenced to the central vertex site, Ct) in a sample of d epressed and nondepressed mothers and their 3-6-month-old infants. A g reater number of depressed mothers and their infants vs. nondepressed mothers and their infants displayed right frontal EEG asymmetry. These data indicate that the depressed affect exhibited by infants of depre ssed mothers is associated with a pattern of brain electrical activity similar to that found in inhibited infants and children and in chroni cally depressed adults. Further research is required to determine whet her the EEG pattern is a marker of current or chronic mood state.