Functional connectivity of amygdala in patients with depression after subcortical stroke

ZHANG Le; GUO Hong; JIANG Yingjian; Li Yimeng; ZHANG Jing

doi:10.19300/j.2018.L5781

Abstract：Objective To detect the changes in functional connectivity(FC)of amygdala in the patients with depression after subcortical infarction. Methods Twenty-one patients with depression after chronic subcortical infarction were recruited,including 13 male and 8 female,age range 41-62 years,average age 53.2 ±4.4 years.Twenty-one healthy subjects were selected as control,including 11 male and 10 female,age range 43-58 years,average age 51.8±6.3 years.By using gradient echo single-shot echo-planar imaging sequence, the resting functional MRI data were obtained, and the statistical parameter mapping software (SPM8) was used to process the data and perform statistical analysis. Bilateral amygdalae were selected as the seeds and the seed-based functional connectivity was calculated. General linear model (GLM)was used to test the intergroup difference in functional connectivity after controlling the age and gender.Correlation analysis was performed by using Pearson correlation analysis between the functional connectivity and the depression scores in patient group. Results There was no significant intergroup difference in functional connectivity of the left amygdala (AlphaSim correction, cluster>65 voxels,P>0.05). The decreased functional connectivity was revealed between the right amygdala and the right prefrontal cortex(voxels=66,T=4.315)and the right posterior parietal cortex(voxels=99,T=4.492)in patient group compared to healthy subjects (AlphaSim correction:single voxel P<0.001,cluster>65 voxels).There was no significant correlation between the depression scores and FC values within the areas with decreased FC of amygdala in patient group (r=0.084, P=0.359). Conclusion Decreased functional connectivity between the right amygdala and the right prefrontal cortex and the right posterior parietal cortex may be one of the neuromechanisms of post-stroke depression.