Abnormal EEG activity in major depressive disorder during musical reward experience

A major clinical feature of depression is anhedonia, which is closely linked to dysfunction of the reward system. But there is a lack of research on musical reward and its neuroelectrophysiological characteristics in depression. Therefore, we investigated these characteristics of major depressive disorder (MDD).

The EEG of 28 MDD and 30 healthy controls (HC) while listening to music was recorded to assess theta power spectral density (PSD), theta phase lag index (PLI), frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA), and beta/alpha ratio.

The Barcelona Music Reward Questionnaire score of MDD was significantly lower than that of HC. Under "low pleasure" and "musical chill" conditions, theta PSD values in the left and right prefrontal regions of MDD were greater than HC. Theta PLI was significantly higher under "neutral", "low pleasure" and "musical chill" conditions than under "no music" condition in MDD. In MDD, the beta/alpha ratio under the "musical chill" condition was higher than that under other music conditions.

The musical reward sensitivity of MDD was weakened, but the musical reward experience could still be obtained. In musical reward experience of MDD, there were reward dysfunction compensations and the interaction between reward networks was weakened.