Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2026

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression
08:42

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression

Published on: May 19, 2015

Abnormal functional connectivity of amygdala in late-onset depression was associated with cognitive deficits

Yingying Yue1, Yonggui Yuan, Zhenghua Hou

  • 1The Department of Neuropsychiatry, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital and Institute of Neuropsychiatry of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.

Plos One
|September 17, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Late-onset depression (LOD) shows reduced prefrontal gyrus activity and abnormal amygdala functional connectivity (FC), linked to cognitive deficits. These brain connectivity changes may serve as key markers for cognitive dysfunction in LOD.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Major depressive disorder (MDD) involves cortico-limbic circuit dysfunction.
  • Abnormal functional connectivity (FC) with the amygdala is noted in MDD.
  • Connectivity alterations and cognitive impact in late-onset depression (LOD) remain understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate brain connectivity alterations in patients with late-onset depression (LOD).
  • Examine the correlation between disrupted brain connectivity and cognitive impairment in LOD.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) on 22 LOD patients and 22 healthy controls (HC).
  • Analyzed regional homogeneity (ReHo) and amygdala seed-based FC.
  • Conducted neuropsychological tests, including verbal fluency and digit span tests.

Main Results:

  • LOD patients exhibited decreased ReHo in the right middle frontal gyrus and left superior frontal gyrus compared to HC.
  • Altered FC was observed between the amygdala and frontal/occipital regions in LOD patients.
  • Reduced FC between the amygdala and right middle occipital gyrus correlated negatively with verbal fluency and digit span test performance.

Conclusions:

  • Reduced prefrontal gyrus activity and abnormal bilateral amygdala FC are potential biomarkers for cognitive dysfunction in LOD.
  • These findings highlight the neural underpinnings of cognitive impairment in late-onset depression.

More Related Videos

Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging09:14

Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Published on: March 14, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Role of Amygdala in Memory01:16

Role of Amygdala in Memory

The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure responsible for processing and storing memories, particularly those linked to emotions like fear and stress. It plays an essential role in the brain's response to emotionally significant events and often enhances memory formation by triggering stress hormone release. The amygdala is vital for encoding and retrieving memories associated with fear or stress, a process that is adaptive by helping organisms avoid dangerous situations.
One of the...
Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System01:15

Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System

The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...
Long-term Depression01:03

Long-term Depression

Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
Long-term Depression01:05

Long-term Depression

Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Depression: Overview01:18

Depression: Overview

Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology01:23

Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Alzheimer disease involves structural changes in the brain that begin long before symptoms appear. The most distinctive features are extracellular neuritic plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.Neuritic plaques form in the cerebral cortex and around blood vessels. These plaques contain a dense core of beta-amyloid (Aβ)—a toxic protein fragment that clumps outside neurons. The core is surrounded by damaged neuronal extensions, as well as reactive astrocytes and microglia. Abnormal...