Functional connectivity density of postcentral gyrus predicts rumination and major depressive disorders in males

Abstract

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental health condition marked by persistent sadness and loss of interest. Recent evidence suggested that abnormal functional connectivity (FC) may be directly linked to the development of MDD, and that gender differences existed in the FC patterns. In this study, we utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from 41 healthy participants to identify FC patterns that correlate with levels of rumination in both genders.The results indicated no gender differences in rumination levels. However, the functional connectivity density (FCD) analysis revealed that in males, the FCD of the postcentral gyrus was negatively correlated with the levels of rumination and brooding, while not with reflection. No FCD in females was found to be related to rumination or its subtypes. Further FC analysis revealed that the connectivities between the postcentral gyrus and several regions, predominantly from the default mode network (DMN), were negatively correlated with rumination levels. This link was assumed to be a risk factor for rumination and MDD in males. In conclusion, our findings indicate that the FC between the postcentral gyrus and the DMN is a potential risk factor for MDD in males, while no FC risk factors were found in females.