A dorsomedial prefrontal cortex-based dynamic functional connectivity model of rumination.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Rumination, characterized by repetitive negative thoughts, is a key symptom of depression.
• Previous research linked trait rumination to default mode network alterations.
• Predictive neuroimaging markers for rumination are currently lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a predictive neuroimaging marker for trait rumination.
• To identify brain connectivity patterns associated with rumination.
• To test the generalizability of the marker across diverse populations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a predictive modeling approach on resting-state functional connectivity data.
• Employed dynamic functional connectivity analysis.
• Validated the marker across five diverse subclinical and clinical samples (n=288).
• Applied virtual lesion analysis for marker refinement.

Main Results:

• A whole-brain marker based on dynamic connectivity with the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) was identified.
• This dmPFC-based marker demonstrated generalizability across subclinical datasets.
• A refined marker predicted depression scores in adults with major depressive disorder (n=35).

Conclusions:

• The study highlights the significant role of the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) in trait rumination.
• A novel dynamic functional connectivity marker for rumination was successfully developed and validated.
• This marker holds potential for identifying and understanding rumination in clinical and subclinical populations.