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.