Abstract: | A hypothesis of depression development is put forward. It is suggested that depression develops as a result of the disorders of the normal mechanisms of learning and memory. To assess the hypothesis, a functional system of behavioral control with the key role of memory apparatus and its links with other units of the system is proposed. According to the behavioral control system, memory is organized and works as the integration of activity of sensory, motivational and emotional inputs. It was shown that disorders of each of these inputs make specific contribution into the origin and manifestations of depression and corresponding morphological, electrophysiological, trophic, neurochemical, molecular-genetic and other changes. |