title: Neural response to pleasant stimuli in anhedonia: an fMRI study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the neural correlates of affect processing in depressed anhedonic patients and healthy controls. Whole brain functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained from seven females with a diagnosis of chronic unipolar major depression and high levels of anhedonia, and seven healthy females, while they were presented with positive valence and neutral images. Patients, compared to controls, showed decreased activation in medial frontal cortex, and increased activation in inferior frontal cortex, anterior cingulate, thalamus, putamen and insula. Reduced activation in medial frontal cortex may underlie abnormal positive affect processing in patients. Increases in neural activation in putamen and thalamus, previously found in transient sadness, and anterior cingulate could point to an involvement of these structures in anhedonia.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research, Department of Neurology, King's College, London, UK.
authors.forename: Martina T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Mitterschiffthaler
authors.forename: Veena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumari
authors.forename: Gin S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Malhi
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Vincent P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Giampietro
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brammer
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suckling
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andrew
authors.forename: Tonmoy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology