Baseline working memory activation deficits in dimensional anxious depression as detected by magnetoencephalography

Dawn F Ionescu; Allison C Nugent; David A Luckenbaugh; Mark J Niciu; Erica M Richards; Carlos A Zarate; Maura L Furey

doi:10.1017/neu.2014.46

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Baseline working memory activation deficits in dimensional anxious depression as detected by magnetoencephalography

Journal article

Open access

Baseline working memory activation deficits in dimensional anxious depression as detected by magnetoencephalography

Dawn F Ionescu, Allison C Nugent, David A Luckenbaugh, Mark J Niciu, Erica M Richards, Carlos A Zarate and Maura L Furey

Acta neuropsychiatrica, Vol.27(3), pp.143-152

06/2015

DOI: 10.1017/neu.2014.46

PMCID: PMC6363111

PMID: 25600154

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/6363111View

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Abstract

Anxiety often co-occurs with major depressive disorder (MDD). This preliminary study sought to ascertain the extent to which anxious depression drives group neurobiological differences between patients with MDD and healthy volunteers (HVs). Magnetoencephalography beta-band frequency was used to compare differences in brain response during the N-back working memory task between 30 medication-free patients with treatment-resistant MDD (anxious depression=18; nonanxious depression=12) and 28 HVs. Compared to HVs, patients with anxious depression had significantly reduced desynchronisation (less activation) in the left precuneus, right cuneus, and left insula extending into the inferior and middle frontal cortex during the 2-back condition compared with the 1-back condition of the N-back working memory task--indicating less activation of these neural networks in patients with anxious depression during the condition with the highest level of task demands. No other significant group differences were found during the working memory conditions. This preliminary study suggests that a subset of patients--those with anxious depression--may be driving observed group differences between patients with MDD and HVs. Further neurobiological studies and replication experiments are necessary to determine the extent to which this subgroup has preferentially influenced our understanding of the underlying neurobiology of depression.

Depressive Disorder, Major - physiopathology

Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant - psychology

Memory Disorders - physiopathology

Memory Disorders - psychology

Brain - anatomy & histology

Brain - physiopathology

Humans

Middle Aged

Prefrontal Cortex - physiopathology

Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods

Male

Memory, Short-Term - physiology

Brain Mapping - methods

Anxiety Disorders - psychology

Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant - physiopathology

Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology

Young Adult

Magnetoencephalography - methods

Adult

Female

Task Performance and Analysis

Anxiety Disorders - physiopathology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Baseline working memory activation deficits in dimensional anxious depression as detected by magnetoencephalography
Creators: Dawn F Ionescu - 1Department of Psychiatry,Massachusetts General Hospital,Boston,MA,USA
Allison C Nugent - 3Experimental Therapeutics & Pathophysiology Branch,Intramural Research Program,National Institute of Mental Health,National Institutes of Health,Bethesda,MD,USA
David A Luckenbaugh - 3Experimental Therapeutics & Pathophysiology Branch,Intramural Research Program,National Institute of Mental Health,National Institutes of Health,Bethesda,MD,USA
Mark J Niciu - 3Experimental Therapeutics & Pathophysiology Branch,Intramural Research Program,National Institute of Mental Health,National Institutes of Health,Bethesda,MD,USA
Erica M Richards - 3Experimental Therapeutics & Pathophysiology Branch,Intramural Research Program,National Institute of Mental Health,National Institutes of Health,Bethesda,MD,USA
Carlos A Zarate - 3Experimental Therapeutics & Pathophysiology Branch,Intramural Research Program,National Institute of Mental Health,National Institutes of Health,Bethesda,MD,USA
Maura L Furey - 3Experimental Therapeutics & Pathophysiology Branch,Intramural Research Program,National Institute of Mental Health,National Institutes of Health,Bethesda,MD,USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Acta neuropsychiatrica, Vol.27(3), pp.143-152
DOI: 10.1017/neu.2014.46
PMID: 25600154
PMCID: PMC6363111
NLM abbreviation: Acta Neuropsychiatr
ISSN: 0924-2708
eISSN: 1601-5215
Publisher: England
Grant note: ZIA MH002927-09 / Intramural NIH HHS Intramural NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 06/2015
Academic Unit: Psychiatry; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984003972102771

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