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Decreased functional connectivity between the amygdala and the left ventral prefrontal cortex in treatment-naive patients with major depressive disorder: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 November 2012

Y. Tang ,
L. Kong ,
F. Wu ,
F. Womer ,
W. Jiang ,
Y. Cao ,
L. Ren ,
J. Wang ,
G. Fan  and
H. P. Blumberg
...Show all authors
Y. Tang
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
L. Kong
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
F. Wu
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
F. Womer
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
W. Jiang
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
Y. Cao
Affiliation:
Shenyang Mental Health Center, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
L. Ren
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
J. Wang
Affiliation:
Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
G. Fan
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
H. P. Blumberg
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
K. Xu*
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
F. Wang*
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
*
*Author for correspondence: K. Xu, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, 155 Nanjing North Street, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, PR China. (Email: kexu@vip.sina.com) [K. Xu] (Email:fei.wang@yale.edu) [F. Wang]
*Author for correspondence: K. Xu, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, 155 Nanjing North Street, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, PR China. (Email: kexu@vip.sina.com) [K. Xu] (Email:fei.wang@yale.edu) [F. Wang]
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Abstract

Background

Convergent studies provide support for abnormalities in the structure and functioning of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the amygdala, the key components of the neural system that subserves emotional processing in major depressive disorder (MDD). We used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine potential amygdala–PFC functional connectivity abnormalities in treatment-naive subjects with MDD.

Methods

Resting-state fMRI data were acquired from 28 individuals with MDD and 30 healthy control (HC) subjects. Amygdala–PFC functional connectivity was compared between the MDD and HC groups.

Results

Decreased functional connectivity to the left ventral PFC (VPFC) from the left and right amygdala was observed in the MDD group, compared with the HC group (p < 0.05, corrected).

Conclusions

The treatment-naive subjects with MDD showed decreased functional connectivity from the amygdala to the VPFC, especially to the left VPFC. This suggests that these connections may play an important role in the neuropathophysiology of MDD at its onset.

Keywords

Amygdalafunctional connectivityfunctional magnetic resonancemajor depressive disorderresting stateventral prefrontal cortex
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 43 , Issue 9 , September 2013 , pp. 1921 - 1927
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012 

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