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This study is focused on understanding the brain processes involved in the emotional ups and downs experienced by people with bipolar disorder. Individuals with this condition often have rapid and intense mood swings, but the exact brain activities causing these changes are not well understood. This research aims to uncover how the brain shifts between different emotional states and whether increasing positive emotions can help stabilize these mood swings. It is important because it could lead to better ways of managing emotions in people with bipolar disorder, improving their quality of life. Participants in this study include adults with bipolar disorder and healthy individuals for comparison. They undergo two main sessions. The first session involves discussing the study, completing interviews, and filling out questionnaires about their emotions and mood. The second session involves MRI scans that look at brain activity while resting and performing tasks. These tasks include thinking about personal memories and trying to boost positive emotions. The study measures changes in brain activity and emotional responses to understand how emotions fluctuate and whether positive thinking can help manage these changes. This information could help develop future treatments that are more personalized and responsive to the emotional states of those with bipolar disorder.
Inclusion Criteria 1. Age 18 to 65 years 2. Male or female 3. BMI between 18.5 and 38.0 kg/m2 at Screening 4. Capable of understanding and complying with study requirements 5. Fluent in English 6. Able to provide informed consent BD Group: 7. Meet the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for BD-I or BD-II who are currently depressed or mixed state defined by the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) 8. Moderate or greater depressive symptom severity (MADRS ≥ 15 or PHQ-9 ≥ 10) HC Group: 9. No current or past psychiatric disorder (verified by MINI) Exclusion Criteria 1. No telephone or easy access to a telephone 2. Significant medical problems as identified by the medical screening questionnaire: e.g. a history of unstable liver or renal insufficiency; glaucoma; significant and unstable cardiac, vascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, neurologic, hematologic, rheumatologic, or metabolic disturbance; or any other condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would make participation not be in the best interest (e.g., compromise the well-being) of the participant or that could prevent, limit, or confound the protocol-specified assessments 3. A positive test for drugs of abuse, including alcohol (breath test), cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, methamphetamines, phencyclidine, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, methadone, and oxycodone 4. Drug or alcohol intoxication (based on positive UTOX or breathalyzer test at screening or study session) or reported alcohol/drug withdrawal, last cannabis use must be \>48 hours prior to study session. 5. Current DSM-5 diagnosis of a psychosis spectrum disorder or moderate to severe substance use disorder 6. Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury or other neurocognitive disorder with evidence of neurological deficits, neurological disorders, or severe or unstable medical conditions that might be compromised by participation in the study (to be determined by primary care provider) 7. Current significant suicidal ideation or suicide attempt within the past 3 months. 8. Change in the dose or prescription of a medication within the 6 weeks before enrolling in the study that could affect brain functioning, e.g., anxiolytics, antipsychotics, antidepressants, or mood stabilizers 9. Taking drugs that affect the fMRI hemodynamic response (e.g., methylphenidate, acetazolamide, excessive caffeine intake \> 1000 mg/day) 10. MRI contraindications as documented on the MR Environment Screening 11. Unwillingness or inability to complete any of the major aspects of the study protocol, including magnetic resonance imaging (i.e., due to claustrophobia), or behavioral assessment. However, failing to complete some individual aspects of these assessment sessions will be acceptable (i.e., being unwilling to answer individual items on some questionnaires or being unwilling to complete a behavioral task) 12. Non-correctable vision or hearing problems
is designated in this study