[Neurobiological approach to brain functional asymmetry in depression].

The modern literature data were observed, which dedicated to the study of neurobiological mechanisms of depressive states of different origin. The results of the investigations of structurally functional features of depression in healthy volunteers in experiments and in patients with the neurological diseases were viewed. The data cited confirm the modern concepts of R. Davidson concerning to the role of brain functional asymmetry in depression: i.e., the associations between depression and a decrease of the functional activation of the left prefrontal lobe, and also the involving of amygdale in the processes of the forming of negative emotions and depression. The literature data observed and findings of our investigations allow us to conclude that depressive states are characterized not only by the decrease of the functional activity of the left hemisphere, especially, its prefrontal area, but also reciprocal increase of the physiological activity of the prefrontal area of the right hemisphere combined with right-hemispheric functional insufficiency, especially, of its posterior (parieto-temporal) areas.