Differences in verbal and spatial working memory in patients with bipolar II and unipolar depression: an MSI study

Abstract

Background Depressive symptoms could be similarly expressed in bipolar and unipolar disorder. However, changes in cognition and brain networks might be quite distinct. We aimed to find out the difference in the neural mechanism of impaired working memory in patients with bipolar and unipolar disorder. Method According to diagnostic criteria of bipolar II disorder of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) and assessments, 13 bipolar II depression (BP II), 8 unipolar depression (UD) patients and 15 healthy controls (HC) were recruited in the study. We used 2-back tasks and magnetic source imaging (MSI) to test working memory functions and get the brain reactions of the participants. Results Compared with HC, only spatial working memory tasks accuracy was significantly worse in both UD and BP II (p = 0.001). Pearson correlation showed that the stronger the FCs’ strength of MFG-IPL and IPL-preSMA, the higher accuracy of SWM task within left FPN in patients with UD (r = 0.860, p = 0.006; r = 0.752, p = 0.031). However, the FC strength of IFG-IPL was negatively correlated with the accuracy of SWM task within left FPN in patients with BP II (r = − 0.591, p = 0.033). Conclusions Our study showed that the spatial working memory of patients with whether UD or BP II was impaired. The patterns of FCs within these two groups of patients were different when performing working memory tasks.

Comparing the Working Memory Capacity with Cognitive Flexibility, Cognitive Emotion Regulation, and Learning Styles of University Students: A Domain General View

“…Taking an earlier study conducted with patients with Parkinson disease having mild clinical symptoms as an example, it indicated that their spatial WMC was weaker when compared to verbal and visual WMC [ 23 ]. Also, a very recent study investigated the difference between verbal and visual WMC with depressive individuals and found that only spatial WMC of individuals with unipolar depression and bipolar II depression was impaired [ 24 ]. There are some other researches indicating the difference between verbal and spatial WMC in healthy children.…”

Central Adiponectin Signaling – A Metabolic Regulator in Support of Brain Plasticity

“…Lifestyle factors greatly interfere with metabolism, circulating adiponectin levels, cognition, and mood. Imbalance in the input/output energy levels due to excessive energy intake and low physical activity levels can lead to increased adiposity, obesity, and diabetes, all associated with reduced circulating adiponectin levels [70][71][72], cognitive impairments [74][75][76], and reduced structural and functional plasticity [74][75][76]. Likewise, chronic psychological stress, which will be thoroughly discussed next, is linked to reduced adiponectin signaling and impaired peripheral and central metabolism.…”

Avoidance-motivational intensity modulated the effect of negative emotion on working memory

“…The results from clinical studies involving patients with psychiatric disorders also contributed to the understanding of emotion–cognition link [ 28 ]. Findings from recent literature showed only spatial working memory was impaired in patients with bipolar II and unipolar depression [ 30 ]. From the previous literature, it can be concluded that researchers have not yet reached a consensus regarding the effect of negative emotion on working memory.…”