“With adults, an inequality in the frontal lobes, with the left being less active than the right, may be found in association with frequent episodes of depression. This condition can be related to their problems as children with attention and focus; such problems result from the lack of interest and motivation associated with the early predispostion to depression. Children frequently have problems including poor impulse control, lack of motivation, indifference, defiance, and low or flat mood states. There are two causes. The first is mainly neurological in nature; the second is psychological. The left frontal cortex is an important executive site in the brain. Inhibition, rational thinking, and management of communication with other brain locations are all directed by the left frontal cortex. Hence, children with this brain pattern often have impulse-control problems. They may “act without thinking” or, more seriously, have anger-control problems. They may also have problems with writing down or reciting (or both) previously learned information. They are routinely described as disorganized and incapable of following through and completing tasks. When asked to do something, they inevitably get sidetracked unless closely monitored and reminded to return to the assigned task. A psychological cause is present as well. The relation between under-activity of the left frontal lobe and depression was discovered in the early 1990s by Richard Davidson and his colleagues at the University of Wisconsin. In the book Brain Asymmetry, they discuss a number of studies of the emotional significance of such asymmetries. For example, they report that stroke patients with left-frontal-lobe damage are prone to depression. Later work by Peter Rosenfeld of Northwestern University and Elsa and Rufun Baehr replicated the finding that depression is related to a more active right (than left) frontal lobe. Most important, they report that such depression can be treated with neurotherapy focused on restoring balance in the frontal regions of the brain. Many practioners feel that when the right frontal cortex is hyperactive, the patient is generating negative emotional thoughts, which are believed to be reflected in increased activity on this side of the brain. The effects of depression give rise to defensive anger, indifference, lack of interest, and defiance in order to mitigate the emotionally painful depressed mood. Depression in a child is often unrecognized by parents and teachers because adults tend to attribute the behaviors to wilful acts by the child. He is not trying, is being defiant, does not care, is lazy, is spoiled or, worse, is evil or deficient. These are common beliefs held by adults when confronted with a depressed child. Thus, although the depression may be neurological, the response may reflect psychological defences against the depression.” pp. 151-152 Biofeedback for the Brain by Paul G Swingle Ph.D. Questions? Treatment begins with a brain map qEEG. Call Fort Wayne Neurofeedback to set an appointment and ask questions. Ph. 260 432-8777