Sex differences in neural activity of chronic unpredictable stress-induced negative cognitive bias

Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects 20% of the population, with females twice as likely to develop it. Cognitive symptoms like negative cognitive bias (NCB) are resistant to treatment and understudied. Pilot data suggest sex differences in hippocampal activation and functional connectivity between brain regions in NCB. This is significant, as altered brain connectivity affects therapeutic outcomes, and common antidepressants are ineffective for 30% of people and often do not reverse NCB. The project aims to examine sex differences in functional connectivity and neuronal activation in the limbic system and whether hippocampal glutamate projections regulate NCB. It is hypothesized that NCB-related neurons are more likely GABAergic/serotonergic in females, and inhibiting glutamatergic neurons in the hippocampus will reduce NCB differently by sex.
The project will contribute significantly to the field of mental health. Moreover, it fosters international cooperation, serving as a bridge between Dr. Liisa Galea (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto) and Dr. Nicole Gervais (University of Groningen, the Netherlands), who share scientific interests but have not previously collaborated. This partnership broadens research platforms, promoting global knowledge exchange and accelerating scientific progress.

Faculty Supervisor:

Liisa Galea

Student:

Partner:

University of Groningen

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Toronto

Program: