Chinese AI Detects Depression Risk 4 Years Previous With Brain Activity

AI research to predict the risk of depression

Scientists from the University of Shenzhen, China, have developed a model of artificial intelligence (AI) capable of analyzing brain activity and responses to facial expressions. This model is designed to predict the risk of major depressive disorder (MDD) up to four years earlier, especially in adolescents. However, it is important to note that this model only serves as a risk prediction tool, not as a diagnostic tool.

How AI works in analyzing emotions

The research was conducted by a team led by Professor Lu Han at the Shenzhen University School of Artificial Intelligence. The findings of this study were published in the journal Science Advances. The researchers used data from two clinical studies involving adolescents in several European countries. One of these studies is image, who followed the participants when they were 16, 19, and 23 years old.

In the test, participants were shown faces with angry, happy, and neutral expressions. Researchers then observed how their brains responded to these expressions. The results show a difference in the way participants process emotional information. Adolescents who have difficulty distinguishing emotional changes in the face and tend to interpret other people’s expressions as anger have a higher risk of experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety as adults.

AI and Brain Activity Patterns

The researchers then used in-depth learning technology to analyze these patterns. The AI model is designed to mimic the way the brain processes visual information and learns how emotional concepts such as anger are encoded in brain activity.

One of the important findings appeared in 19-year-old participants. Those who show brain response to facial expressions related to emotions or negative experiences are more likely to experience a form of depression in the future. This finding was then tested using data from a second study named Stratify.

Differences between various mental health disorders

Studies Stratify Not only seeing depression, but also comparing it with a number of other disorders, including alcohol-related disorders, overeating behavior, and drug abuse. In a group of more than 400 adolescents with various forms of depressive disorder, as many as 134 people who were clinically diagnosed with major depressive disorder showed abnormal results on the indicators studied.

In contrast, the results of participants with conditions such as addiction, anorexia, and bulimia did not show a big difference compared to participants who did not have signs of mental health disorders. This is one of the interesting findings because it shows that the pattern of brain activity being studied may have a more specific relationship with the risk of depression, although further research is needed to determine how accurate the model is.

potential for early detection

Major depressive disorder is one of the major mental health problems with a major global impact. Because symptoms are often seen only after the condition develops, the ability to recognize risk factors early has the potential to help prevention and intervention efforts.

Shenzhen University researchers assessed that the AI model could help identify risk factors for depression before the disorder progressed further. However, this technology is still at the research stage. AI-based predictions are not the same as clinical diagnoses, and the results of the model cannot be used to state with certainty that a person will experience depression.