Resting-State Functional Connectivity of Subgenual Cingulate Cortex in Major Depression

Objective : The subgenual cingulate cortex, a part of default-mode network, has been known to playa key role in the pathophysiology of depression. The previous studies have reported abnormal functional connectivity between the subgenual cingulate cortex and other brain regions in the patients with depression. The goal of this shldy was to explore the resting-state functional connectivity of the subgenual cingulate cortex between the patients with depression and healthy subjects. Methods : Twenty patients with major depression and age- and sex-matched 20 healthy subjects underwent 5-minute resting state fMRI scans. The functional connectivity map in each subject was acquired using seed-based correlation analysis with the seed located in the subgenual cingulate cortex (Talairach coordinates; x=-10, y=5, z=-10). The functional connectivity maps were calculated using AFNI and compared between the patient and healthy subject group via two-sample T-test using 3dttest++ in AFNI package. Results : Functional connectivity was decreased between the subgenual cingulate cortex and both sides of fusiform gyrus in depressed subjects. Connectivity was also decreased between the subgenual cingulate cortex and the left cerebellum in the patient group. There was no correlation between the severity of depression and the degree of functional connectivity between the subgenual cingulate cortex and the regions showing decreased functional connectivity. Conclusion : Decreased resting-state functional connectivity between the subgenual cingulate cortex and both sides of fusiform gyrus, and decreased connectivity between the subgenual cingulate cortex and the left cerebellum found in the patients with major depression in comparison to the healthy subjects might be related to abnormal emotional and cognitive processing of depressed patients.

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