1. ¹Department of Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
2. ²Division of Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, ETH and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
3. ³Department of Psychiatry, Charité, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
4. ⁴Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany

Correspondence: Professor G Northoff, Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Strasse 44, Magdeburg, Sacshsen-Anhalt 39120, Germany. Tel: +0049 391 6714234; Fax: +0049 391 6715223; E-mail: georg.northoff@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de

Received 19 December 2007; Revised 21 April 2008; Accepted 24 April 2008; Published online 4 June 2008.

Abstract

Studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) show predominant negative blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) responses (NBRs) in regions of the default-mode network such as the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and the posterior cingulate cortex. Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) show emotional–cognitive disturbances, which have been associated with alterations within the default-mode network. However, it remains unclear whether these default-mode network alterations are related to abnormalities in NBRs. We therefore investigated neural activity in the default-mode network during different emotional tasks in patients with MDD in an event-related fMRI design. MDD patients showed significantly reduced NBRs in several regions of the default-mode network. Decreased NBRs in MDD patients correlated with depression severity and feelings of hopelessness. In sum, our findings demonstrate that default-mode network NBRs are reduced in MDD and modulate these patients' abnormally negative emotions.