Aberrant associations between neuronal resting-state fluctuations and working memory-induced activity in major depressive disorder.

Previous investigations have revealed performance deficits and altered neural processes during working-memory (WM) tasks in major depressive disorder (MDD). While most of these studies used task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), there is an increasing interest in resting-state fMRI to characterize aberrant network dynamics involved in this and other MDD-associated symptoms. It has been proposed that activity during the resting-state represents characteristics of brain-wide functional organization, which could be highly relevant for the efficient execution of cognitive tasks.

Investigating the impact of rumination and adverse childhood experiences on resting-state neural activity and connectivity in depression.

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.

Functional connectivity changes between amygdala and prefrontal cortex after ECT are associated with improvement in distinct depressive symptoms.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective treatments for treatment-resistant depression. However, the underlying mechanisms of action are not yet fully understood. The investigation of depression-specific networks using resting-state fMRI and the relation to differential symptom improvement might be an innovative approach providing new insights into the underlying processes.