Abnormal directed functional connectivity in emotional cognitive control in patients with major depressive disorder

This study combined emotional pictures with a cognitive control task paradigm (attention network test, ANT) to investigate abnormal directed functional connectivity (FC) during emotional cognitive control process in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and reveal the abnormal hub brain regions.

This study included 38 MDD patients and 26 healthy controls (HC). Electroencephalography (EEG) data were collected while each participant performed the emotional ANT paradigm. Directed FC in the beta frequency band (13-30 Hz) was calculated based on the Phase Slope Index (PSI). Network-Based Statistics (NBS) were used to test for group differences. Additionally, brain network analysis and correlation analysis were used to examine abnormal manifestations in brain regions of MDD patients.

Key neural findings revealed that under the negative congruent (-in-) condition, MDD patients exhibited abnormally increased directed FC from Mid-Fronto-Central (MFC) to Left-Temporo-Parietal (LTP) and from Right-Fronto-Central (RFC) to LTP. LTP was the brain region receiving the largest inflow of information. Under the incongruent (+in-) condition, the scope of regions exerting excessive regulation over LTP in MDD patients expanded further, including frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital lobes. Network analysis further revealed that the nodal efficiency of the LTP region in MDD patients was significantly reduced.

This study reveals an abnormal pattern in MDD patients during emotional cognitive control, where the LTP acts as a core hub region characterized by excessive information input but reduced integration efficiency. These abnormal connectivity patterns reflect the pathological mechanisms of MDD and provide a basis for developing targeted interventions.