Functional connectivity between the thalamus and the primary somatosensory cortex in major depressive disorder: a resting-state fMRI study

Abstract

BackgroundStudies have confirmed that the thalamus and the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) are associated with cognitive function. These two brain regions are closely related in structure and function. The interactions between SI and the thalamus are of crucial significance for the cognitive process. Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have significant cognitive impairment. Based on these observations, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to investigate whether there is an abnormality in the SI-thalamic functional connection in MDD. Furthermore, we explored the clinical symptoms related to this abnormality.MethodsWe included 31 patients with first-episode major depressive disorder and 28 age-, gender-, and education-matched healthy controls (HC). The SI-thalamic functional connectivity was compared between the MDD and HC groups. The correlation analyses were performed between areas with abnormal connectivity and clinical characteristics.ResultsCompared with healthy subjects, the MDD patients had enhanced functional connectivity between the thalamus and SI (p < 0.05, corrected). Brain areas with significantly different levels of connectivity had a negative correlation with the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status total score (r = − 0.383, p = 0.033), delayed memory score (r = − 0.376, p = 0.037) and two-digit continuous operation test score (r = − 0.369, p = 0.041) in MDD patients.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate that SI-thalamic functional connectivity is abnormal and associated with the core clinical symptoms in MDD. The SI-thalamic functional connectivity functions as a neurobiological feature and potential biomarker for MDD.

Dynamic changes in thalamic connectivity following stress and its association with future depression severity

“…Increased FC of the thalamus with the DMN and the sensory motor areas and decreased FC with the ECN indicate that, under acute stress, while the information related to self and essential sensory is up‐regulated, executive control signals may exert greater effort in controlling sensory input, and as a result, ECN might down‐regulate thalamus activity. The altered FC changes of the thalamus to the cortical regions especially the dlPFC imply the involvement of the thalamo‐cortical circuit during stress adaption, which is in align with findings in depression (Jiang et al, ; Kang et al, ). Further causality analyses might elucidate the FC changes among different networks.…”

Amplitude of Low-Frequency Oscillations in Major Depressive Disorder With Childhood Trauma

“…Previous studies have found an increased GM volume in right S1 in patients with comorbid anxiety and MDD (54), while the total area of the somatosensory cortex is reduced in adolescent patients with MDD and in patients with bipolar disorder (55,56). Kang et al reported MDD patient's abnormalities in S1-thalamic functional connectivity related to the typical clinical symptoms of MDD, which indicates that such changes are neurobiological characteristics and potential biomarkers of MDD with childhood trauma (57). However, there has still been no research to report the relationship between changes in functional signals in S1 and the development of MDD.…”

Keeping in Touch with Mental Health: The Orienting Reflex and Behavioral Outcomes from Calatonia

“…She also began to go out more often instead of staying at home watching videos of other anorexic girls. This process suggests what Schomaker and Meeter [124] describe as an "attentional response to novelty, possibly mediated by the amygdala, an arousal-like response to deviance, which could be mediated by the noradrenergic system and a slower upregulation of exploration, motivation and learning, mediated by the dopaminergic system", as well as a possible reorganization of thalamic functional connectivity [125,126].…”