Association between cingulum bundle structure and cognitive performance: An observational study in major depression - 10/07/10

Doi : 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2010.05.001

I. Schermuly ^a,^⁎ , A. Fellgiebel ^a, S. Wagner ^a, I. Yakushev ^a, P. Stoeter ^c, R. Schmitt ^e, R.J. Knickenberg ^d, F. Bleichner ^d, M.E. Beutel ^b
^a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
^b Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
^c Institute of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
^d Psychosomatic Clinic, Rhoen Klinikum, Bad Neustadt an der Saale, Germany
^e Clinic for Radiology, Rhoen Klinikum, Bad Neustadt an der Saale, Germany

Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 0 6131 172488; fax: +49 0 6131 176690.

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Abstract

Background

Major depression can be regarded as a systemic neurobehavioral disorder resulting from dysfunction of the limbic-cortical networks. The cingulum bundle represents a major association fiber tract of those networks. The aim of our study was to determine the association of brain structural tissue markers of the cingulum bundle and cognitive function in patients with major depression.

Methods

Region-of-interest-based analyses of the middle-anterior and middle-posterior cingulum bundle fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) using color-coded diffusion-tensor imaging and neuropsychological assessment in 14 patients with major depression.

Results

FA of the middle-anterior and middle-posterior cingulum bundle was significantly correlated to the performance in a planning and divided attention task. Furthermore, MD of the middle-posterior cingulum bundle was significantly correlated to a planning task. There was no significant correlation between FA and MD of the cingulum bundle and selective attention or memory.

Conclusions

Brain structural tissue markers of the middle-anterior and middle-posterior cingulum bundle were found to be associated with executive functioning and divided attention in patients with major depression. Disconnection within the limbic-cortical networks may underlay cognitive dysfunction in major depression.

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Keywords : Diffusion-tensor imaging, DTI, Cingulum bundle, Depression, Executive function