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Microstructural abnormalities in subcortical reward circuitry of subjects with major depressive disorder.
- Source :
-
PloS one [PLoS One] 2010 Nov 29; Vol. 5 (11), pp. e13945. Date of Electronic Publication: 2010 Nov 29. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Background: Previous studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) have focused on abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex and medial temporal regions. There has been little investigation in MDD of midbrain and subcortical regions central to reward/aversion function, such as the ventral tegmental area/substantia nigra (VTA/SN), and medial forebrain bundle (MFB).<br />Methodology/principal Findings: We investigated the microstructural integrity of this circuitry using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in 22 MDD subjects and compared them with 22 matched healthy control subjects. Fractional anisotropy (FA) values were increased in the right VT and reduced in dorsolateral prefrontal white matter in MDD subjects. Follow-up analysis suggested two distinct subgroups of MDD patients, which exhibited non-overlapping abnormalities in reward/aversion circuitry. The MDD subgroup with abnormal FA values in VT exhibited significantly greater trait anxiety than the subgroup with normal FA values in VT, but the subgroups did not differ in levels of anhedonia, sadness, or overall depression severity.<br />Conclusions/significance: These findings suggest that MDD may be associated with abnormal microstructure in brain reward/aversion regions, and that there may be at least two subtypes of microstructural abnormalities which each impact core symptoms of depression.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Anisotropy
Avoidance Learning physiology
Brain Mapping methods
Cohort Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Medial Forebrain Bundle physiopathology
Middle Aged
Substantia Nigra abnormalities
Ventral Tegmental Area abnormalities
Young Adult
Depressive Disorder, Major physiopathology
Reward
Substantia Nigra physiopathology
Ventral Tegmental Area physiopathology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1932-6203
- Volume :
- 5
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- PloS one
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 21124764
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0013945