Increased spreading activation in depression

The dopaminergic system is implicated in depressive disorders and research has also shown that dopamine constricts lexical/semantic networks by reducing spreading activation. Hence, depression, which is linked to reductions of dopamine, may be associated with increased spreading activation. However, research has generally found no effects of depression on spreading activation, using semantic priming paradigms. We used a different paradigm to investigate the relationship between depression and spreading activation, one based on word frequencies. Our sample included 97 undergraduates who completed the BDI-II and the Controlled Oral Word Association test as well as the Animal Naming test. The results indicated that the group scoring within the depressed ranged evidenced greater spreading activation as compared to those who scored within the normal range on the BDI-II. The implications of these results as they relate to creativity in depression is discussed.

► Depressed participants average COWAT word frequency was (M = 126.68, SD = 81.70).
► Nondepressed participants average COWAT word frequency was (M = 170.91, SD = 92.45).
► Hence, depression associated with greater spreading activation.
► Results may help to explain increased creativity in depressed individuals.