IF you’ve ever struggled with depression, then you know all too well how mental illness can make your world dull and gray.
But according to a new study, depression can actually affect your fitness see.
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The squares marked A and B are actually the same color, but B is perceived by the brain as darker due to the lighter background Credit: Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience
In a study published in the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, a group of Finnish researchers tested the visual perception of people with and without depression.
The first test, called ‘contrast induction’, saw two squares labeled A and B placed inside two larger gray squares.
Although the larger squares were different colors, the inner two squares are the same, but the human brain generally perceives B as darker as a result of the lighter background.
The researchers found that both groups were able to distinguish the difference between the two squares, but the same could not be said for the “contrast attenuation” test.
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Researchers found that people with depression struggle to see bold lines in the DC squareCredit: Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
In the second test, the participants were given two identical squares C and D that contained vertical lines.
But square C is placed on the corresponding background, D is imposed on the horizontal lines.
As a result, the lines in the D square tend to appear much bolder due to the contrast.
However, researchers have found that depressed patients often struggle to see this.
Symptoms of depression and where to seek help:
Depression is not just a feeling of unhappiness or feeling full for a few days, which is common and completely normal.
Those who suffer from depression can experience overwhelming feelings of sadness that can last for weeks and possibly months.
We are all different and the condition can manifest itself in different ways, but it is often described as a complete disconnection from all feelings of happiness.
The NHS warns against trivializing depression as a bogus health problem on its website: “Some people think depression is trivial and not a real health condition. They are wrong, it is a real illness with real symptoms.”
The symptoms of depression can be different for different people.
Many people suffer from a persistent feeling of hopelessness and can sometimes lose interest in the things that used to make them happy.
Sufferers may also cry and struggle with anxiety symptoms.
Physical symptoms can include fatigue, lack of sleep, lack of appetite and sexual desire, as well as pain.
In the most severe cases, patients may become suicidal.
If you are concerned that you may be suffering from depression, you should speak to your doctor immediately.
If you are concerned about a loved one, you can call free advice services such as Samaritans on 116 123.
Scientists believe that a bout of depression affects the way the cerebral cortex in the brain processes visual contrasts.
Viljami Salmela, a research associate at the Academy of the University of Helsinki, said: “What was surprising was that depressed patients perceived the contrast of images presented differently than non-depressed patients.”
The article stated: “Because contrast suppression is orientation-specific and based on cortical processing, our results suggest that people who have experienced a major depressive episode have normal retinal processing but impaired cortical contrast normalization.”
However, they are confident that the patient’s ability to perceive visual contrasts will partially return after they recover from that depressive episode.
The study included 111 people who experienced depression or depressive episodes as a consequence of bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder.
An additional 29 people who had no history of depression were also recruited for the researchers to use as a comparison.
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Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: tiengtrunghaato.edu.vn