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Gruzman R, Hempel M, Domke AK, Hartling C, Stippl A, Carstens L, Bajbouj M, Gärtner M, Grimm S. Investigating the impact of rumination and adverse childhood experiences on resting-state neural activity and connectivity in depression. J Affect Disord 2024; 358:283-291. [PMID: 38387672 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.02.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both ruminative thought processes and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are well-established risk factors for the emergence and maintenance of depression. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these associations remain poorly understood. METHODS We examined resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data (3 T Tim Trio MR scanner; Siemens, Erlangen) of 44 individuals diagnosed with an acute depressive episode. Specifically, we focused on investigating functional brain activity and connectivity within and between three large-scale neural networks associated with processes affected in depression: the default mode network (DMN), the salience network (SN), and the central executive network (CEN). Correlational and regression-based analyses were performed. RESULTS Our regions of interest analyses revealed that region-specific spontaneous neural activity in the anterior DMN was associated with self-reported trait rumination, specifically, the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC). Furthermore, using a liberal statistical threshold, we found that spontaneous neural activity of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the pgACC were associated with depression symptom severity. Neither spontaneous neural activity in the SN and CEN nor functional connectivity within and across the investigated networks was associated with depression severity or rumination. Furthermore, there was no association between ACEs and brain activity and connectivity. LIMITATIONS Lack of a formal control group or low-risk group for comparison. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our results indicate network-specific changes in spontaneous brain activity, that are linked to both depression severity and rumination. Findings underscore the crucial role of the pgACC in depression and contribute to a dimensional and symptom-based understanding of depression-related network imbalances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Gruzman
- Department of Psychology, MSB Medical School Berlin, Rüdesheimer Straße 50, 14197 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Moritz Hempel
- Department of Psychology, MSB Medical School Berlin, Rüdesheimer Straße 50, 14197 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ann-Kathrin Domke
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt - Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - Corinna Hartling
- Department of Psychology, MSB Medical School Berlin, Rüdesheimer Straße 50, 14197 Berlin, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt - Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Stippl
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt - Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - Luisa Carstens
- Department of Psychology, MSB Medical School Berlin, Rüdesheimer Straße 50, 14197 Berlin, Germany
| | - Malek Bajbouj
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt - Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - Matti Gärtner
- Department of Psychology, MSB Medical School Berlin, Rüdesheimer Straße 50, 14197 Berlin, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt - Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - Simone Grimm
- Department of Psychology, MSB Medical School Berlin, Rüdesheimer Straße 50, 14197 Berlin, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt - Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
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2
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Poulin JM, Bigford GE, Lanctôt KL, Giacobbe P, Schaffer A, Sinyor M, Rabin JS, Masellis M, Singnurkar A, Pople CB, Lipsman N, Husain MI, Rosenblat JD, Cao X, MacIntosh BJ, Nestor SM. Engaging Mood Brain Circuits with Psilocybin (EMBRACE): a study protocol for a randomized, placebo-controlled and delayed-start, neuroimaging trial in depression. Trials 2024; 25:441. [PMID: 38956594 PMCID: PMC11221029 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-024-08268-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide across domains of health and cognition, affecting overall quality of life. Approximately one third of individuals with depression do not fully respond to treatments (e.g., conventional antidepressants, psychotherapy) and alternative strategies are needed. Recent early phase trials suggest psilocybin may be a safe and efficacious intervention with rapid-acting antidepressant properties. Psilocybin is thought to exert therapeutic benefits by altering brain network connectivity and inducing neuroplastic changes that endure for weeks post-treatment. Although early clinical results are encouraging, psilocybin's acute neurobiological effects on neuroplasticity have not been fully investigated. We aim to examine for the first time how psilocybin acutely (intraday) and subacutely (weeks) alters functional brain networks implicated in depression. METHODS Fifty participants diagnosed with MDD or persistent depressive disorder (PDD) will be recruited from a tertiary mood disorders clinic and undergo 1:1 randomization into either an experimental or control arm. Participants will be given either 25 mg psilocybin or 25 mg microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) placebo for the first treatment. Three weeks later, those in the control arm will transition to receiving 25 mg psilocybin. We will investigate whether treatments are associated with changes in arterial spin labelling and blood oxygenation level-dependent contrast neuroimaging assessments at acute and subacute timepoints. Primary outcomes include testing whether psilocybin demonstrates acute changes in (1) cerebral blood flow and (2) functional brain activity in networks associated with mood regulation and depression when compared to placebo, along with changes in MADRS score over time compared to placebo. Secondary outcomes include changes across complementary clinical psychiatric, cognitive, and functional scales from baseline to final follow-up. Serum peripheral neurotrophic and inflammatory biomarkers will be collected at baseline and follow-up to examine relationships with clinical response, and neuroimaging measures. DISCUSSION This study will investigate the acute and additive subacute neuroplastic effects of psilocybin on brain networks affected by depression using advanced serial neuroimaging methods. Results will improve our understanding of psilocybin's antidepressant mechanisms versus placebo response and whether biological measures of brain function can provide early predictors of treatment response. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06072898. Registered on 6 October 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M Poulin
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Gregory E Bigford
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Krista L Lanctôt
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Peter Giacobbe
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ayal Schaffer
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mark Sinyor
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jennifer S Rabin
- Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mario Masellis
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amit Singnurkar
- Department of Medical Imaging, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Christopher B Pople
- Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nir Lipsman
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Muhammad I Husain
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Joshua D Rosenblat
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, Poul Hansen Family Centre for Depression, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Xingshan Cao
- Research Design and Biostatistics, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bradley J MacIntosh
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dr. Sandra Black Centre for Brain Resilience and Recovery, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sean M Nestor
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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3
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Uy JP, Yuan JP, Colich NL, Gotlib IH. Effects of Pollution Burden on Neural Function During Implicit Emotion Regulation and Longitudinal Changes in Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100322. [PMID: 38957313 PMCID: PMC11217611 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Exposure to environmental pollutants early in life has been associated with increased prevalence and severity of depression in adolescents; however, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this association are not well understood. In the current longitudinal study, we investigated whether pollution burden in early adolescence (9-13 years) was associated with altered brain activation and connectivity during implicit emotion regulation and changes in depressive symptoms across adolescence. Methods One hundred forty-five participants (n = 87 female; 9-13 years) provided residential addresses, from which we determined their relative pollution burden at the census tract level, and performed an implicit affective regulation task in the scanner. Participants also completed questionnaires assessing depressive symptoms at 3 time points, each approximately 2 years apart, from which we calculated within-person slopes of depressive symptoms. We conducted whole-brain activation and connectivity analyses to examine whether pollution burden was associated with alterations in brain function during implicit emotion regulation of positively and negatively valenced stimuli and how these effects were related to slopes of depressive symptoms across adolescence. Results Greater pollution burden was associated with greater bilateral medial prefrontal cortex activation and stronger bilateral medial prefrontal cortex connectivity with regions within the default mode network (e.g., temporoparietal junction, posterior cingulate cortex, precuneus) during implicit regulation of negative emotions, which was associated with greater increases in depressive symptoms across adolescence in those exposed to higher pollution burden. Conclusions Adolescents living in communities characterized by greater pollution burden showed altered default mode network functioning during implicit regulation of negative emotions that was associated with increases in depressive symptoms across adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica P. Uy
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Justin P. Yuan
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Natalie L. Colich
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Ian H. Gotlib
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
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Yu Z, Burback L, Winkler O, Xu L, Dennett L, Vermetten E, Greenshaw A, Li XM, Milne M, Wang F, Cao B, Winship IR, Zhang Y, Chan AW. Alterations in brain network connectivity and subjective experience induced by psychedelics: a scoping review. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1386321. [PMID: 38807690 PMCID: PMC11131165 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1386321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Intense interest surrounds current research on psychedelics, particularly regarding their potential in treating mental health disorders. Various studies suggest a link between the subjective effects produced by psychedelics and their therapeutic efficacy. Neuroimaging evidence indicates an association of changes in brain functional connectivity with the subjective effects of psychedelics. We conducted a review focusing on psychedelics and brain functional connectivity. The review focused on four psychedelic drugs: ayahuasca, psilocybin and LSD, and the entactogen MDMA. We conducted searches in databases of MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycInfo and Scopus from inception to Jun 2023 by keywords related to functional connectivity and psychedelics. Using the PRISMA framework, we selected 24 articles from an initial pool of 492 for analysis. This scoping review and analysis investigated the effects of psychedelics on subjective experiences and brain functional connectivity in healthy individuals. The studies quantified subjective effects through psychometric scales, revealing significant experiences of altered consciousness, mood elevation, and mystical experiences induced by psychedelics. Neuroimaging results indicated alterations in the functional connectivity of psychedelics, with consistent findings across substances of decreased connectivity within the default mode network and increased sensory and thalamocortical connectivity. Correlations between these neurophysiological changes and subjective experiences were noted, suggesting a brain network basis of the psychedelics' neuropsychological impact. While the result of the review provides a potential neural mechanism of the subjective effects of psychedelics, direct clinical evidence is needed to advance their clinical outcomes. Our research serves as a foundation for further exploration of the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijia Yu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Lisa Burback
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Olga Winkler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Lujie Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Liz Dennett
- Sperber Health Sciences Library, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Eric Vermetten
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Andrew Greenshaw
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Xin-Min Li
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Michaela Milne
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Institute of Human Nutrition at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Fei Wang
- Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Brain Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bo Cao
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Ian R. Winship
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Yanbo Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Allen W. Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Park H, Kuplicki R, Paulus MP, Guinjoan SM. Rumination and Overrecruitment of Cognitive Control Circuits in Depression. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2024:S2451-9022(24)00115-0. [PMID: 38703822 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rumination is associated with greater cognitive dysfunction and treatment resistance in major depressive disorder (MDD), but its underlying neural mechanisms are not well understood. Because rumination is characterized by difficulty in controlling negative thoughts, the current study investigated whether rumination was associated with aberrant cognitive control in the absence of negative emotional information. METHODS Individuals with MDD (n = 176) and healthy control individuals (n = 52) completed the stop signal task with varied stop signal difficulty during functional magnetic resonance imaging. In the task, a longer stop signal asynchrony made stopping difficult (hard stop), whereas a shorter stop signal asynchrony allowed more time for stopping (easy stop). RESULTS In participants with MDD, higher rumination intensity was associated with greater neural activity in response to difficult inhibitory control in the frontoparietal regions. Greater activation for difficult inhibitory control associated with rumination was also positively related to state fear. The imaging results provide compelling evidence for the neural basis of inhibitory control difficulties in individuals with MDD with high rumination. CONCLUSIONS The association between higher rumination intensity and greater neural activity in regions involved in difficult inhibitory control tasks may provide treatment targets for interventions aimed at improving inhibitory control and reducing rumination in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heekyeong Park
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Department of Psychology, University of North Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas.
| | | | - Martin P Paulus
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Oxley College of Health Science, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma
| | - Salvador M Guinjoan
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Department of Psychiatry, Oklahoma State University Health Sciences Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
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Kampaite A, Gustafsson R, York EN, Foley P, MacDougall NJJ, Bastin ME, Chandran S, Waldman AD, Meijboom R. Brain connectivity changes underlying depression and fatigue in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A systematic review. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299634. [PMID: 38551913 PMCID: PMC10980255 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system, characterised by neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Fatigue and depression are common, debilitating, and intertwined symptoms in people with relapsing-remitting MS (pwRRMS). An increased understanding of brain changes and mechanisms underlying fatigue and depression in RRMS could lead to more effective interventions and enhancement of quality of life. To elucidate the relationship between depression and fatigue and brain connectivity in pwRRMS we conducted a systematic review. Searched databases were PubMed, Web-of-Science and Scopus. Inclusion criteria were: studied participants with RRMS (n ≥ 20; ≥ 18 years old) and differentiated between MS subtypes; published between 2001-01-01 and 2023-01-18; used fatigue and depression assessments validated for MS; included brain structural, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) or diffusion MRI (dMRI). Sixty studies met the criteria: 18 dMRI (15 fatigue, 5 depression) and 22 fMRI (20 fatigue, 5 depression) studies. The literature was heterogeneous; half of studies reported no correlation between brain connectivity measures and fatigue or depression. Positive findings showed that abnormal cortico-limbic structural and functional connectivity was associated with depression. Fatigue was linked to connectivity measures in cortico-thalamic-basal-ganglial networks. Additionally, both depression and fatigue were related to altered cingulum structural connectivity, and functional connectivity involving thalamus, cerebellum, frontal lobe, ventral tegmental area, striatum, default mode and attention networks, and supramarginal, precentral, and postcentral gyri. Qualitative analysis suggests structural and functional connectivity changes, possibly due to axonal and/or myelin loss, in the cortico-thalamic-basal-ganglial and cortico-limbic network may underlie fatigue and depression in pwRRMS, respectively, but the overall results were inconclusive, possibly explained by heterogeneity and limited number of studies. This highlights the need for further studies including advanced MRI to detect more subtle brain changes in association with depression and fatigue. Future studies using optimised imaging protocols and validated depression and fatigue measures are required to clarify the substrates underlying these symptoms in pwRRMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agniete Kampaite
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Edinburgh Imaging, Edinburgh Imaging Facility, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecka Gustafsson
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth N. York
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Edinburgh Imaging, Edinburgh Imaging Facility, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Foley
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Niall J. J. MacDougall
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Mark E. Bastin
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Edinburgh Imaging, Edinburgh Imaging Facility, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Adam D. Waldman
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Edinburgh Imaging, Edinburgh Imaging Facility, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Rozanna Meijboom
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Edinburgh Imaging, Edinburgh Imaging Facility, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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7
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Jiang Y. A theory of the neural mechanisms underlying negative cognitive bias in major depression. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1348474. [PMID: 38532986 PMCID: PMC10963437 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1348474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The widely acknowledged cognitive theory of depression, developed by Aaron Beck, focused on biased information processing that emphasizes the negative aspects of affective and conceptual information. Current attempts to discover the neurological mechanism underlying such cognitive and affective bias have successfully identified various brain regions associated with severally biased functions such as emotion, attention, rumination, and inhibition control. However, the neurobiological mechanisms of how individuals in depression develop this selective processing toward negative is still under question. This paper introduces a neurological framework centered around the frontal-limbic circuit, specifically analyzing and synthesizing the activity and functional connectivity within the amygdala, hippocampus, and medial prefrontal cortex. Firstly, a possible explanation of how the positive feedback loop contributes to the persistent hyperactivity of the amygdala in depression at an automatic level is established. Building upon this, two hypotheses are presented: hypothesis 1 revolves around the bidirectional amygdalohippocampal projection facilitating the amplification of negative emotions and memories while concurrently contributing to the impediment of the retrieval of opposing information in the hippocampus attractor network. Hypothesis 2 highlights the involvement of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in the establishment of a negative cognitive framework through the generalization of conceptual and emotional information in conjunction with the amygdala and hippocampus. The primary objective of this study is to improve and complement existing pathological models of depression, pushing the frontiers of current understanding in neuroscience of affective disorders, and eventually contributing to successful recovery from the debilitating affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyue Jiang
- University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
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8
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Chen Q, Bonduelle SLB, Wu GR, Vanderhasselt MA, De Raedt R, Baeken C. Unraveling how the adolescent brain deals with criticism using dynamic causal modeling. Neuroimage 2024; 286:120510. [PMID: 38184159 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Sensitivity to criticism, which can be defined as a negative evaluation that a person receives from someone else, is considered a risk factor for the development of psychiatric disorders in adolescents. They may be more vulnerable to social evaluation than adults and exhibit more inadequate emotion regulation strategies such as rumination. The neural network involved in dealing with criticism in adolescents may serve as a biomarker for vulnerability to depression. However, the directions of the functional interactions between the brain regions within this neural network in adolescents are still unclear. In this study, 64 healthy adolescents (aged 14 to 17 years) were asked to listen to a series of self-referential auditory segments, which included negative (critical), positive (praising), and neutral conditions, during fMRI scanning. Dynamic Causal Modeling (DCM) with Parametric Empirical Bayesian (PEB) analysis was performed to map the interactions within the neural network that was engaged during the processing of these segments. Three regions were identified to form the interaction network: the left pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC), the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and the right precuneus (preCUN). We quantified the modulatory effects of exposure to criticism and praise on the effective connectivity between these brain regions. Being criticized was found to significantly inhibit the effective connectivity from the preCUN to the DLPFC. Adolescents who scored high on the Perceived Criticism Measure (PCM) showed less inhibition of the preCUN-to-DLPFC connectivity when being criticized, which may indicate that they required more engagement of the Central Executive Network (which includes the DLPFC) to sufficiently disengage from negative self-referential processing. Furthermore, the inhibitory connectivity from the DLPFC to the pgACC was strengthened by exposure to praise as well as criticism, suggesting a recruitment of cognitive control over emotional responses when dealing with positive and negative evaluative feedback. Our novel findings contribute to a more profound understanding of how criticism affects the adolescent brain and can help to identify potential biomarkers for vulnerability to develop mood disorders before or during adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinyuan Chen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Sam Luc Bart Bonduelle
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels University Hospital (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Guo-Rong Wu
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rudi De Raedt
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Chris Baeken
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels University Hospital (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium; Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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9
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Wang Z, Baeken C, Wu GR. Metabolic Covariance Connectivity of Posterior Cingulate Cortex Associated with Depression Symptomatology Level in Healthy Young Adults. Metabolites 2023; 13:920. [PMID: 37623864 PMCID: PMC10456574 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13080920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Early detection in the development of a Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) could guide earlier clinical interventions. Although MDD can begin at a younger age, most people have their first episode in young adulthood. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms relating to such an increased risk are not clear. The posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), exhibiting high levels of brain connectivity and metabolic activity, plays a pivotal role in the pathological mechanism underlying MDD. In the current study, we used the (F-18) fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) to measure metabolic covariance connectivity of the PCC and investigated its association with depression symptomatology evaluated by the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Inventory-Revised (CESD-R) among 27 healthy individuals aged between 18 and 23 years. A significant negative correlation has been observed between CESD-R scale scores and the PCC metabolic connectivity with the anterior cingulate, medial prefrontal cortex, inferior and middle frontal gyrus, as well as the insula. Overall, our findings suggest that the neural correlates of depressive symptomatology in healthy young adults without a formal diagnosis involve the metabolic connectivity of the PCC. Our findings may have potential implications for early identification and intervention in people at risk of developing depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China;
| | - Chris Baeken
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;
| | - Guo-Rong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China;
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