A-145 Tunnel Vision: A Novel Investigation of the Effect of Depression on Field of View

Abstract Objective This study examined the effects of depression on field of view and memory as it relates to cognitive remittance of depression. Depressed individuals possess a negativity bias producing a narrowed field of view, attentional bias, and enhanced memory for negative emotional information. Methods The study investigated whether formerly depressed (remitted) individuals are truly cognitively remitted and display the same emotional and attention inhibitions and memory as depressed individuals, specifically under a negatively mood induced state. Female participants aged 39–85 were grouped into non-depressed (healthy) and remitted categories. The study followed a 3-day testing procedure which included diagnostic verification on the first day, and eye-tracking methods on the second and third day looking at a series of emotionally valenced images. The study employed a 2 x 3 x 2 mixed model ANOVA. Results Results suggested that remitted individuals possess a narrower field of view, especially when subjected to a negative mood induction as seen in Figure 1. Results also suggested that a negative mood induction results in greater visual exploration (attention) to negatively valenced information for formerly depressed individuals. Results showed that remitted individuals continued to demonstrate significantly different viewing patterns (i.e., saccade amplitudes and number of fixations) to emotionally valenced information under a negative mood induction but, this did not impact recognition memory. Conclusion Taken together, the results of the study support the idea that formerly depressed individuals experience a perceptual and cognitive tunnel vision that elaborates on their inhibited negative cognitive schemas and puts them at risk for relapse into further episodes of depression.