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Hedonic tone is associated with left supero-lateral medial forebrain bundle microstructure

T Bracht1, A N Doidge1, P A Keedwell2

  • 1Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology,Cardiff University,Cardiff,UK.

Psychological Medicine
|August 16, 2014
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

White-matter microstructure in the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) does not differ between remitted depressed and never depressed individuals. However, hedonic capacity is linked to altered microstructure in the supero-lateral MFB (slMFB).

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neuroimaging
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • The medial forebrain bundle (MFB) is a key pathway in the brain's reward system, with two main branches: infero-medial (imMFB) and supero-lateral (slMFB).
  • Previous research indicated white-matter microstructural changes in the slMFB during acute major depressive disorder (MDD).
  • This study examines white-matter microstructure in remitted MDD patients and its relation to hedonic capacity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate white-matter microstructure alterations in the MFB of individuals with remitted major depressive disorder (MDD).
  • To explore the association between MFB white-matter microstructure and hedonic capacity in remitted MDD patients.

Main Methods:

  • High angular resolution diffusion-weighted imaging (HARDI) was performed on 18 remitted depressed (RD) and 22 never depressed (ND) participants.
  • The damped Richardson-Lucy (dRL) algorithm was used to reconstruct the imMFB and slMFB pathways.
  • Mean fractional anisotropy (FA) was measured along these tracts.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in mean FA of the imMFB or slMFB were found between ND and RD participants.
  • A negative correlation was observed between hedonic capacity and mean FA of the left slMFB, accounting for 21% of the variance.

Conclusions:

  • White-matter microstructure metrics of the MFB in remitted depression do not differ from those in never depressed individuals.
  • Hedonic capacity is associated with alterations in the white-matter microstructure of the supero-lateral MFB (slMFB).
Keywords:
white matter

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