EEG resting-state large-scale brain network dynamics are related to depressive symptoms

Abstract

BackgroundThe few previous studies on resting-state EEG microstates in depressive patients suggest altered temporal characteristics of microstates compared to those of healthy subjects. We tested whether resting-state microstate temporal characteristics could capture large-scale brain network dynamic activity relevant to depressive symptomatology.\n\nMethodsTo evaluate a possible relationship between the resting-state large-scale brain network dynamics and depressive symptoms, we performed EEG microstate analysis in patients with moderate to severe depression within bipolar affective disorder, depressive episode, and periodic depressive disorder, and in healthy controls.\n\nResultsMicrostate analysis revealed six classes of microstates (A-F) in global clustering across all subjects. There were no between-group differences in the temporal characteristics of microstates. In the patient group, higher symptomatology on the Montgomery-[A]sberg Depression Rating Scale, a questionnaire validated as measuring severity of depressive episodes in patients with mood disorders, correlated with higher occurrence of microstate A (Spearmans rank correlation, r = 0.70, p < 0.01).\n\nConclusionOur results suggest that the observed interindividual differences in resting-state EEG microstate parameters could reflect altered large-scale brain network dynamics relevant to depressive symptomatology during depressive episodes. These findings suggest the utility of the microstate analysis approach in an objective depression assessment.