EEG during different emotions in 10-month-old infants of depressed mothers

EEG activity of 10-month-old infants of depressed and non-depressed mothers was compared during stimuli designed to produce happy and sad responses. D uring a baseline recording and during their happy facial expressions, infan ts of depressed mothers showed greater relative right frontal EEG asymmetry compared to infants of non-depressed mothers. The greater relative right f rontal EEG asymmetry was also noted during a play interaction with their mo thers. Infants of depressed mothers also showed more negative and less posi tive expressions. These findings are discussed in relation to the theory th at frontal EEG activity may be a biological marker for symptoms associated with depression.