Changed brain entropy and functional connectivity patterns induced by electroconvulsive therapy in majoy depression disorder

• Published in: Psychiatry research. Neuroimaging 2024-04, Vol.339, p.111788-111788, Article 111788
• Main Authors: Fan, Siyu, Zhang, Jiahua, Wu, Yue, Yu, Yue, Zheng, Hao, Guo, Yuan yuan, Ji, Yang, Pang, Xiaonan, Tian, Yanghua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brain entropy; Electroconvulsive therapy; Major depressive disorder; Resting-state functional connectivity
• ISSN: 0925-4927; 1872-7506
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2024.111788

•Compared to the healthy control group, patients with major depressive disorder exhibited higher brain entropy in the right precuneus and the right angular gyrus.•After ECT, brain entropy in the right precuneus and angular gyrus decreased.•Resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) increased after ECT.•Using RSFC and brain entropy can provide new targets for ECT. Our objective is to innovatively integrate both linear and nonlinear characteristics of brain signals in Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) research, with the goal of uncovering deeper insights into the pathogenesis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and identifying novel targets for other physical intervention therapies. We measured brain entropy (BEN) in 42 MDD patients and 42 matched healthy controls (HC) using rs-fMRI data. Brain regions that differed significantly in patients with MDD before and after ECT were extracted. Then, we use these brain regions as seed points to investigate the differences in whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) patterns before and after ECT. Compared to HCs, patients had higher BEN levels in the right precuneus (PCUN.R) and right angular gyrus (ANG.R). After ECT, patients had lower BEN levels in the PCUN.R and ANG.R. Compared with before ECT, patients showed significantly increased RSFC after ECT between the PCUN.R and right middle temporal gyrus and ANG.R. Significantly increased RSFC was observed between the ANG.R and right middle frontal gyrus and right supramarginal gyrus after ECT. Combining the linear and nonlinear characteristics of brain signals can effectively explore the pathogenesis of depression and provide new targets for ECT.