Changes of Functional Brain Networks in Major Depressive Disorder: A Graph Theoretical Analysis of Resting-State fMRI

PLoS One. 2015 Sep 1;10(9):e0133775. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133775. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Recent developments in graph theory have heightened the need for investigating the disruptions in the topological structure of functional brain network in major depressive disorder (MDD). In this study, we employed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and graph theory to examine the whole-brain functional networks among 42 MDD patients and 42 healthy controls. Our results showed that compared with healthy controls, MDD patients showed higher local efficiency and modularity. Furthermore, MDD patients showed altered nodal centralities of many brain regions, including hippocampus, temporal cortex, anterior cingulate gyrus and dorsolateral prefrontal gyrus, mainly located in default mode network and cognitive control network. Together, our results suggested that MDD was associated with disruptions in the topological structure of functional brain networks, and provided new insights concerning the pathophysiological mechanisms of MDD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain / physiopathology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Functional Neuroimaging*
  • Gyrus Cinguli / physiopathology
  • Hippocampus / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Models, Biological
  • Neural Pathways / physiopathology
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiopathology
  • Temporal Lobe / physiopathology

Associated data

  • Dryad/10.5061/dryad.7631R

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (61472330) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (XDJK2012C023 and SWU111047).