Association between cingulum bundle structure and cognitive performance: an observational study in major depression.
BACKGROUND
Major depression can be regarded as a systemic neurobehavioral disorder resulting from dysfunction of the limbic-cortical networks. The cingulum bundle represents a major association fiber tract of those networks. The aim of our study was to determine the association of brain structural tissue markers of the cingulum bundle and cognitive function in patients with major depression.


METHODS
Region-of-interest-based analyses of the middle-anterior and middle-posterior cingulum bundle fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) using color-coded diffusion-tensor imaging and neuropsychological assessment in 14 patients with major depression.


RESULTS
FA of the middle-anterior and middle-posterior cingulum bundle was significantly correlated to the performance in a planning and divided attention task. Furthermore, MD of the middle-posterior cingulum bundle was significantly correlated to a planning task. There was no significant correlation between FA and MD of the cingulum bundle and selective attention or memory.


CONCLUSIONS
Brain structural tissue markers of the middle-anterior and middle-posterior cingulum bundle were found to be associated with executive functioning and divided attention in patients with major depression. Disconnection within the limbic-cortical networks may underlay cognitive dysfunction in major depression.
Schermuly
I
I
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. schermuly@psychiatrie.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Fellgiebel
A
A
Wagner
S
S
Yakushev
I
I
Stoeter
P
P
Schmitt
R
R
Knickenberg
R J
RJ
Bleichner
F
F
Beutel
M E
ME
D016880:Anisotropy; D001288:Attention; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D019370:Observation / Q000379:methods