Kang L, Zhang A, Sun N, Liu P, Yang C, Li G, Liu Z, Wang Y, Zhang K. Functional connectivity between the thalamus and the primary somatosensory cortex in major depressive disorder: a resting-state fMRI study.
BMC Psychiatry 2018;
18:339. [PMID:
30340472 PMCID:
PMC6194586 DOI:
10.1186/s12888-018-1913-6]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Studies have confirmed that the thalamus and the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) are associated with cognitive function. These two brain regions are closely related in structure and function. The interactions between SI and the thalamus are of crucial significance for the cognitive process. Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have significant cognitive impairment. Based on these observations, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to investigate whether there is an abnormality in the SI-thalamic functional connection in MDD. Furthermore, we explored the clinical symptoms related to this abnormality.
METHODS
We included 31 patients with first-episode major depressive disorder and 28 age-, gender-, and education-matched healthy controls (HC). The SI-thalamic functional connectivity was compared between the MDD and HC groups. The correlation analyses were performed between areas with abnormal connectivity and clinical characteristics.
RESULTS
Compared with healthy subjects, the MDD patients had enhanced functional connectivity between the thalamus and SI (p < 0.05, corrected). Brain areas with significantly different levels of connectivity had a negative correlation with the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status total score (r = - 0.383, p = 0.033), delayed memory score (r = - 0.376, p = 0.037) and two-digit continuous operation test score (r = - 0.369, p = 0.041) in MDD patients.
CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that SI-thalamic functional connectivity is abnormal and associated with the core clinical symptoms in MDD. The SI-thalamic functional connectivity functions as a neurobiological feature and potential biomarker for MDD.
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