title: In search of the depressive self: extended medial prefrontal network during self-referential processing in major depression.
abstract: Major depression is associated with an excessive self-focus, a tendency to engage oneself in self-referential processing. The medial frontal gyrus (MFG) is central to self-referential processing. This study aimed to explore the neural bases of this excessive self-focus and to disambiguate the role of the MFG in the pathophysiology of major depression. We presented 15 depressed patients and 15 healthy subjects with personality traits during functional magnetic resonance imaging and asked them to judge whether each trait described them ('self' condition) or a generally desirable trait ('general' condition). Both patients and healthy subjects activated the MFG in 'self' vs 'general' condition. However, the activation of the dorsal part of the MFG and of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in 'self' vs 'general' condition was unique to patients. Additionally, patients displayed an increased functional connectivity between the MFG, the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and the DLPFC. These results provide evidence for an extended medial prefrontal network during self-referential processing in major depression, suggesting the involvement of a greater cognitive control.
authors.affiliation: CNRS USR 3246, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, 75013 Paris, France. cedric.lemogne@orange.fr
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lemogne
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: le Bastard
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mayberg
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Volle
authors.forename: Loretxu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bergouignan
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lehéricy
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Allilaire
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fossati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012649:Self Concept
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen