Memory Bias in Depression

Memory bias has been repeatedly regarded as a vulnerability marker of depression, having a significant role in the origin, maintenance and recurrence of this disabling and prevalent mental health condition. This review aims to explore the different manifestations of memory bias for negative and positive information in both explicit and implicit memory in individuals with depression, identify the neural substrates of these cognitive distortions, and present the currently available options of intervention. Selective processing of negative information, especially self-relevant stimuli, has been identified as a key mechanism. Such processing bias has been linked to hyperactivity in memory-related subcortical structures and hypoactivity in the prefrontal cortex. Cognitive bias modification and antidepressant administration have been proposed as treatments targeting memory bias.