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Negative mood is associated with decreased prefrontal cortex functioning during working memory in young adults
Michael K Yeung1,2, Tsz L Lee3, Agnes S Chan3,4
1Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Psychophysiology
|March 5, 2021
Summary
Recent negative mood in healthy young adults is linked to reduced prefrontal cortex (PFC) functioning during working memory tasks. This suggests PFC deficits may occur even without clinical disorders, detectable with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Affective Science
Background:
- The prefrontal-subcortical model links reduced prefrontal cortex (PFC) function to affective disorders.
- Significant variability in negative affect exists within the nonclinical population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between negative affective symptoms and PFC functioning in nonclinical young adults.
- To explore if reduced PFC activity is present in individuals with elevated negative mood states.
Main Methods:
- Forty young adults (18-24 years) completed a working memory (WM) n-back task (3-back vs. 0-back).
- Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) monitored hemodynamic changes in the lateral and medial PFC.
- The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) assessed recent negative emotional states.
Main Results:
- WM load (3-back) elicited activation (increased oxyhemoglobin, decreased deoxyhemoglobin) primarily in the lateral PFC.
- Higher DASS scores (depression, stress) correlated with lower lateral PFC activation during the WM task.
- Negative mood, particularly depression and stress, was associated with diminished PFC functioning.
Conclusions:
- Decreased lateral PFC functioning is associated with recent negative mood in healthy young adults.
- Reduced PFC activity may be present in nonclinical individuals experiencing elevated negative affect.
- fNIRS is a valuable tool for identifying individual differences in negative affective symptoms and associated neural function.
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