Gender-specific patterns in neurological activation of depressed animal subjects from fMRI

Graybeal, Pamela

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Gender-specific patterns in neurological activation of depressed animal subjects from fMRI

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This study examined neurological changes associated with gender differences in an animal model of depression. Depression was induced in eighteen Sprague Dawley rats through chronic administration of corticotropin-releasing factor. Several behavioral paradigms were assessed, including tests for cognition, anxiety, and fear. Functional magnetic resonance imaging of responses to a fear inducing predator odor were then carried out. The study found different patterns in brain activation among experimental groups in the hypothalamus, amygdala, and perirhinal cortex.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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