The Effect of Depression on Pattern Separation Task Performance

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate a possible relationship between depression and memory performance, hypothesizing a decrease in performance among participants with depression tendencies. The cognitive memory task of pattern separation was tested with four different levels of difficulty by use of a computerized memory test and the self-rating MADRS-S depression scale was used to assess the degrees of depression among the non-clinical sample of participants. Pattern separation, the cognitive ability of processing new input and distinguishing it from already stored information was tested on four levels on all participants. Participants were 40 students from Lund University, 26 women and 14 men, with a mean age of 24 (SD 4.19). The levels of depression were then analyzed and compared to the pattern separation task performance. The results proved the experiments ability to successfully test four levels of pattern separation demand, as every level showed an increase in difficulty. Although no significance was found between pattern separation and degree of depression, the results showed a tendency toward the hypothesized direction.