In search of the depressive self: extended medial prefrontal network during self-referential processing in major depression.
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.
Lemogne
Cédric
C
CNRS USR 3246, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, 75013 Paris, France. cedric.lemogne@orange.fr
le Bastard
Guillaume
G
Mayberg
Helen
H
Volle
Emmanuelle
E
Bergouignan
Loretxu
L
Lehéricy
Stéphane
S
Allilaire
Jean-François
JF
Fossati
Philippe
P
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
D010100:Oxygen