title: EEG marker of inhibitory brain activity correlates with resting-state cerebral blood flow in the reward system in major depression.
abstract: Frontal alpha band asymmetry (FAA) is a marker of altered reward processing in major depressive disorder (MDD), associated with reduced approach behavior and withdrawal. However, its association with brain metabolism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate FAA and its correlation with resting-state cerebral blood flow (rCBF). We hypothesized an association of FAA with regional rCBF in brain regions relevant to reward processing and motivated behavior, such as the striatum. We enrolled 20 patients and 19 healthy subjects. FAA scores and rCBF were quantified with the use of EEG and arterial spin labeling. Correlations of the two were evaluated, as well as the association with FAA and psychometric assessments of motivated behavior and anhedonia. Patients showed a left-lateralized pattern of frontal alpha activity and a correlation of FAA lateralization with subscores of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale linked to motivated behavior. An association of rCBF and FAA scores was found in clusters in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex bilaterally (patients), in the left medial frontal gyrus, in the right caudate head and in the right inferior parietal lobule (whole group). No correlations were found in healthy controls. Higher inhibitory right-lateralized alpha power was associated with lower rCBF values in prefrontal and striatal regions, predominantly in the right hemisphere, which are involved in the processing of motivated behavior and reward. Inhibitory brain activity in the reward system may contribute to some of the motivational problems observed in MDD.
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University Bern, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000, Bern 60, Switzerland. andrea.cantisani@unifi.it.|NeuroFarBa Department, Neuroscience Section, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, 50134, Italy. andrea.cantisani@unifi.it.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cantisani
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University Bern, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000, Bern 60, Switzerland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University Bern, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000, Bern 60, Switzerland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stegmayer
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University Bern, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000, Bern 60, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Federspiel
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University Bern, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000, Bern 60, Switzerland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University Bern, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000, Bern 60, Switzerland.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wiest
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University Bern, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000, Bern 60, Switzerland.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Strik
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University Bern, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000, Bern 60, Switzerland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walther
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012146:Rest; D012201:Reward; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Approach motivation; Arterial spin labeling; EEG; Frontal alpha asymmetry; Major depression; Reward processing