Scientists Reveal Cognitive Mechanisms Involved in Bipolar Disorder
An international team of researchers including scientists from HSE University has experimentally demonstrated that individuals with bipolar disorder tend to perceive the world as more volatile than it actually is, which often leads them to make irrational decisions. The scientists suggest that their findings could lead to the development of more accurate methods for diagnosing and treating bipolar disorder in the future. The article has been published in Translational Psychiatry.
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic affective condition characterised by alternating episodes of extreme elation (mania) and severe depression. According to the WHO, an estimated 40 million people worldwide live with bipolar disorder, but diagnosing the condition can be challenging, as its symptoms are not always apparent.
Studies show that individuals with bipolar disorder, even during remission, exhibit specific behavioural and brain activity patterns that may indicate the condition. In particular, patients with bipolar disorder have been found to exhibit impairments in their decision-making processes. Normally, when making a decision, a person tries to choose the option that offers the greatest reward. If the choice proves to be correct, they are likely to make the same decision again next time. However, circumstances can change, requiring a person to reassess which option offers the greatest benefit. Patients with BD often struggle to recognise when it is necessary to adjust their decision-making strategy.
A group of researchers from HSE University, Sechenov University, the Max Planck Institute, and Goldsmiths, University of London, conducted an experiment to investigate how individuals with bipolar disorder adapt to environmental changes and make decisions.
The study included 22 bipolar patients in remission and 27 healthy volunteers who served as the control group. Participants were instructed to earn as many points as possible by selecting either a blue or red image on a computer screen. Each option had a certain probability of winning, which changed throughout the experiment. For example, initially the blue image won 70% of the time, but later its winning probability dropped to 30%. Throughout the experiment, participants’ neuronal brain activity was monitored using magnetoencephalography (MEG).
Marina Ivanova
'This experimental design mimics real-world conditions, which are also full of uncertainties and require constant decision-making—even in everyday situations. For example: should you pet a cat, or is it better not to? Will it purr or scratch? We try to anticipate the consequences of our choices and make the best decision accordingly,' explains Marina Ivanova, Junior Research Fellow at the HSE Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience and primary author of the study.
The results of the experiment showed that participants with bipolar disorder perceived the environment as more volatile than it actually was, which often led them to make incorrect choices.
'If a person makes a decision and it turns out to be the right one, they will likely repeat that choice next time. However, someone with bipolar disorder may change their strategy even after a successful outcome,' says Ivanova.
The scientists also observed neural differences in brain regions involved in decision-making, specifically the medial prefrontal, orbitofrontal, and anterior cingulate cortices. At the neural level, while healthy individuals exhibited alpha-beta suppression and increased gamma activity during the experiment, participants with bipolar disorder showed dampened effects.
'Our study reveals that even outside of manic or depressive episodes, people with bipolar disorder process information about environmental changes differently. They constantly anticipate changes but struggle to properly learn from them when they occur. As a result, their decisions are more spontaneous and unpredictable than those of the control group,' comments Ivanova. ‘However, it is important to remember that our experiment only simulates real life, so we should be cautious when applying these findings to actual everyday situations.'
The results may be useful for developing models to diagnose bipolar disorder and predict its recurrence. In the future, this approach could be adapted to other mental health conditions involving adaptive learning impairments and may also serve as an important step toward advancing computational psychiatry.
See also:
Researchers Examine Student Care Culture in Small Russian Universities
Researchers from the HSE Institute of Education conducted a sociological study at four small, non-selective universities and revealed, based on 135 interviews, the dual nature of student care at such institutions: a combination of genuine support with continuous supervision, reminiscent of parental care. This study offers the first in-depth look at how formal and informal student care practices are intertwined in the post-Soviet educational context. The study has been published in the British Journal of Sociology of Education.
AI Can Predict Student Academic Performance Based on Social Media Subscriptions
A team of Russian researchers, including scientists from HSE University, used AI to analyse 4,500 students’ subscriptions to VK social media communities. The study found that algorithms can accurately identify both high-performing students and those struggling with their studies. The paper has been published in IEEE Access.
HSE Scientists: Social Cues in News Interfaces Build Online Trust
Researchers from the HSE Laboratory for Cognitive Psychology of Digital Interface Users have discovered how social cues in the design of news websites—such as reader comments, the number of reposts, or the author’s name—can help build user trust. An experiment with 137 volunteers showed that such interface elements make a website appear more trustworthy and persuasive to users, with the strongest cue being links to the media’s social networks. The study's findings have been published in Human-Computer Interaction.
Immune System Error: How Antibodies in Multiple Sclerosis Mistake Their Targets
Researchers at HSE University and the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IBCh RAS) have studied how the immune system functions in multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease in which the body's own antibodies attack its nerve fibres. By comparing blood samples from MS patients and healthy individuals, scientists have discovered that the immune system in MS patients can mistake viral proteins for those of nerve cells. Several key proteins have also been identified that could serve as new biomarkers for the disease and aid in its diagnosis. The study has been published in Frontiers in Immunology. The research was conducted with support from the Russian Science Foundation.
Scientists Develop Effective Microlasers as Small as a Speck of Dust
Researchers at HSE University–St Petersburg have discovered a way to create effective microlasers with diameters as small as 5 to 8 micrometres. They operate at room temperature, require no cooling, and can be integrated into microchips. The scientists relied on the whispering gallery effect to trap light and used buffer layers to reduce energy leakage and stress. This approach holds promise for integrating lasers into microchips, sensors, and quantum technologies. The study has been published in Technical Physics Letters.
HSE Scientists Test New Method to Investigate Mechanisms of New Word Acquisition
Researchers at the HSE Centre for Language and Brain were among the first to use transcranial alternating current stimulation to investigate whether it can influence the acquisition of new words. Although the authors of the experiment have not yet found a link between brain stimulation and word acquisition, they believe that adjusting the stimulation parameters may yield different results in the future. The study has been published in Language, Cognition and Neuroscience.
Twenty vs Ten: HSE Researcher Examines Origins of Numeral System in Lezgic Languages
It is commonly believed that the Lezgic languages spoken in Dagestan and Azerbaijan originally used a vigesimal numeral system, with the decimal system emerging later. However, a recent analysis of numerals in various dialects, conducted by linguist Maksim Melenchenko from HSE University, suggests that the opposite may be true: the decimal system was used originally, with the vigesimal system developing later. The study has been published in Folia Linguistica.
'Today, Human Existence Without Mathematics Is Difficult; Tomorrow, It Will Be Simply Impossible'
Mathematicians around the world share a common language and continue to collaborate despite the challenges of recent years. The hub of mathematical networking has been shifting to China, where scientists from various countries meet at conferences and other academic events. Partnerships with leading Chinese universities offer promising opportunities to strengthen existing ties and forge new ones. In this interview with the HSE News Service, Valery Gritsenko, Head of the HSE International Laboratory for Mirror Symmetry and Automorphic Forms, discusses this and other topics, including what AI is and why the state should engage with mathematicians.
Scientists Rank Russian Regions by Climate Risk Levels
Researchers from HSE University and the Russian Academy of Sciences have assessed the levels of climate risks across Russian regions. Using five key climate risks—heatwaves, water stress, wildfires, extreme precipitation, and permafrost degradation—the scientists ranked the country’s regions according to their need for adaptation to climate change. Krasnoyarsk Krai, Irkutsk Region, and Sverdlovsk Region rank among the highest for four of the five climate risks considered. The study has been published in Science of the Total Environment.
'We Are Now Nearing Practical Application of a Stimulus-Free Brain-Mapping System'
Neural interfaces developed by scientists at HSE University in collaboration with clinicians make it possible to communicate with the brain and decode its signals. The use of such interfaces opens up opportunities to stimulate brain activity, restore and normalise muscle control in patients who have suffered a stroke, heart attack, or other neurological disorders, and support the rehabilitation of individuals with traumatic brain injuries or limb loss. Alexey Ossadtchi, Director of the Centre for Bioelectric Interfaces at the HSE Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, discusses the centre and its work.