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ABSTRACT: Objectives
Individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) demonstrate poorer learning and memory skills relative to never-depressed comparisons (NDC). Previous studies report decreased volume and disrupted function of frontal lobes and hippocampi in MDD during memory challenge. However, it has been difficult to dissociate contributions of short-term memory and executive functioning to memory difficulties from those that might be attributable to long-term memory deficits.Methods
Adult males (MDD, n=19; NDC, n=22) and females (MDD, n=23; NDC, n=19) performed the Semantic List Learning Task (SLLT) during functional magnetic resonance imaging. The SLLT Encoding condition consists of 15 lists, each containing 14 words. After each list, a Distractor condition occurs, followed by cued Silent Rehearsal instructions. Post-scan recall and recognition were collected. Groups were compared using block (Encoding-Silent Rehearsal) and event-related (Words Recalled) models.Results
MDD displayed lower recall relative to NDC. NDC displayed greater activation in several temporal, frontal, and parietal regions, for both Encoding-Silent Rehearsal and the Words Recalled analyses. Groups also differed in activation patterns in regions of the Papez circuit in planned analyses. The majority of activation differences were not related to performance, presence of medications, presence of comorbid anxiety disorder, or decreased gray matter volume in MDD.Conclusions
Adults with MDD exhibit memory difficulties during a task designed to reduce the contribution of individual variability from short-term memory and executive functioning processes, parallel with decreased activation in memory and executive functioning circuits. Ecologically valid long-term memory tasks are imperative for uncovering neural correlates of memory performance deficits in adults with MDD.
SUBMITTER: Kassel MT
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4856469 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Kassel Michelle T MT Rao Julia A JA Walker Sara J SJ Briceño Emily M EM Gabriel Laura B LB Weldon Anne L AL Avery Erich T ET Haase Brennan D BD Peciña Marta M Considine Ciaran M CM Noll Douglas C DC Bieliauskas Linas A LA Starkman Monica N MN Zubieta Jon-Kar JK Welsh Robert C RC Giordani Bruno B Weisenbach Sara L SL Langenecker Scott A SA
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS 20160202 4
<h4>Objectives</h4>Individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) demonstrate poorer learning and memory skills relative to never-depressed comparisons (NDC). Previous studies report decreased volume and disrupted function of frontal lobes and hippocampi in MDD during memory challenge. However, it has been difficult to dissociate contributions of short-term memory and executive functioning to memory difficulties from those that might be attributable to long-term memory deficits.<h4>Methods</h4 ...[more]