Body language reveals the secrets of depression.. What happens in the brain?

The results highlight the complex relationship between body movement and psychological state, but they do not prove that changing body posture can treat depression or improve mood on its own.

How did researchers monitor brain activity?

The research team used a wireless device based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology to monitor changes in prefrontal cortex activity while performing the movements.

This method allows for the observation of brain responses during the performance of the movement itself, rather than relying exclusively on the participants' descriptions of their feelings after the experiment ended.

The tasks included movements associated with negative emotions, such as slumping the shoulders, sighing, and pulling the knees toward the body, as well as positive movements, such as adopting a victory pose, jumping, and laughing while clapping.

The researchers classified the participants according to their scores on a questionnaire measuring depressive symptoms, not based on a clinical diagnosis. This means that a high score does not, in itself, prove that a person is suffering from depression.

Clear difference in brain region response

The results showed that when performing movements associated with negative emotions, activity in the left frontal region of the prefrontal cortex increased in participants who scored low on depressive symptoms, while it decreased in those with higher levels.

This difference indicates that the brain does not necessarily respond in the same way to the same movement in all people, and that the level of psychological symptoms may be linked to how emotionally significant movements are processed.

However, the study does not provide a definitive explanation for the reasons for this variation, nor does it allow the recorded activity to be considered a direct indicator of whether a person feels happy or sad.

Increased brain activity does not necessarily mean an improved mood, just as decreased activity does not prove that depression has worsened.

Do these movements help alleviate depression?

The researchers followed up on the participants' symptom scores after a period ranging from one to two weeks and observed changes in those scores, but interpreting the results requires caution.

The changes were linked to the level of symptoms recorded at the beginning of the study, regardless of the nature of the movements the participants performed, whether positive or negative.

The researchers raised the possibility that these changes are related to what is known as "regression to the mean," a statistical phenomenon in which unusually high or low measurements tend to move closer to the average when measured again.

Consequently, this follow-up is not sufficient to prove that performing the movements led to an improvement in symptoms, or that adopting certain body postures can be a treatment for depression.

What do the results mean for the relationship between movement and mood?

The study does not test the effectiveness of a therapeutic exercise program, nor does it provide evidence that allows for comparison between activities such as walking, running, and strength training. Rather, it focuses on how the brain responds to specific emotional movements and how this response differs between individuals.

The results open the door for future research to study individual differences in the relationship between the body and emotions, including the use of portable devices to monitor brain activity during movement, or testing feedback techniques that allow people to see their brain activity signals while performing tasks.

The bottom line remains that body language may be linked to complex psychological and neurological processes, but interpreting this relationship requires additional studies before translating the results into therapeutic advice. Furthermore, diagnosing depression and determining its treatment require professional evaluation, not reliance on body posture or a single movement.