Brain Scans Show Relationship Between Guilt, Depression

As if feeling guilty wasn't bad enough, a new study by the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has confirmed a deep, cognitive association between guilt and depression.

Scientists studied 29 healthy subjects using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to scan subjects' brains while contemplating various social behaviors. Researchers charted for the first time how different parts of the brain correspond to feelings provoked by different types of socially inappropriate behavior.

Notably, when subjects felt guilty, researchers witnessed heightened activity in the same areas of the brain which previous studies have found to be overactive in individuals suffering depression.

Researchers hope this new finding will lead to a better understanding of the relationships between guilt, negative self-image and depression as well as their underlying cognitive psychology.

ABSTRACT: The Neural Basis of Human Social Values: Evidence from Functional MRI