Reduced visual contrast suppression during major depressive episodes

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have suggested that processing of visual contrast information could be altered in major depressive disorder. To clarify the changes at different levels of the visual hierarchy, we behaviourally measured contrast perception in 2 centre-surround conditions, assessing retinal and cortical processing. Methods: As part of a prospective cohort study, our sample consisted of controls (n = 29; 21 female) and patients with unipolar depression, bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder who had baseline major depressive episodes (n = 111; 74 female). In a brightness induction test that assessed retinal processing, participants compared the perceived luminance of uniform patches (presented on a computer screen) as the luminance of the backgrounds was varied. In a contrast suppression test that assessed cortical processing, participants compared the perceived contrast of gratings, which were presented with collinearly or orthogonally oriented backgrounds. Results: Brightness induction was similar for patients with major depressive episodes and controls (p = 0.60, d = 0.115, Bayes factor = 3.9), but contrast suppression was significantly lower for patients than for controls (p < 0.006, d = 0.663, Bayes factor = 35.2). We observed no statistically significant associations between contrast suppression and age, sex, or medication or diagnostic subgroup. At follow-up (n = 74), we observed some normalization of contrast perception. Limitations: We assessed contrast perception using behavioural tests instead of electrophysiology. Conclusion: The reduced contrast suppression we observed may have been caused by decreased retinal feedforward or cortical feedback signals. Because we observed intact brightness induction, our results suggest normal retinal but altered cortical processing of visual contrast during a major depressive episode. This alteration is likely to be present in multiple types of depression and to partially normalize upon remission.

Assessment of Mental Workload by Visual Motor Activity among Control Group and Patient Suffering from Depressive Disorder

“…Perception tests, for instance, could be used like a supplement to other methods of evaluating the efficacy of various medications as the treatment continues. However, because the experiential changes remain modest and demonstrated specifically when matching among sets, depression cannot be recognised by assessing visual perception [ 41 ].…”

Enhanced rationality in autism spectrum disorder

“…For example, individuals with depression exhibit 'depressive realism' [88] in which they exhibit more accurate ratings than individuals without depression about their control over outcomes in an experiment [89]. Enhanced accuracy in depression is further documented by reduced susceptibility to visual illusions [90]. In addition, similar to individuals with ASD, depressed individuals display a diminished or absent optimism bias, meaning that they integrate information objectively, regardless of whether the information is desirable or undesirable [91].…”

Altered Visual Cortical Excitability Is Associated With Psychopathological Symptoms in Major Depressive Disorder

“…Indeed, many lines of studies have reported that MDD is often associated with the subjective experience of altered visual perception, such as photophobia, perceived dimness and reduced visual contrast discrimination ( 49 – 51 ). Moreover, the impairment in visual perception was found to be directly related to the psychopathological symptoms of MDD ( 4 , 8 ). In our study, we found PPS, as indicated by amplitude ratios (A2s/A1), was significantly related to the symptom severity of depression.…”

“…Several studies have investigated the cortical processing of different types of visual perceptions in MDD patients, such as visual motion, visual contrast and visual integration, using psychophysical measures. The results revealed higher motion suppression ( 3 ), decreased contrast suppression ( 4 ) and deficits in integration of visual inputs in MDD ( 5 ). The psychophysical deficits in visual perception in MDD are closely related to the abnormality of biochemical changes in the occipital cortex.…”