Individuals with more severe depression fail to sustain nucleus accumbens activity to preferred music over time. (30th May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jenkins, Lisanne M.; Skerrett, Kristy A.; DelDonno, Sophie R.; Patrón, Víctor G.; Meyers, Kortni K.; Peltier, Scott; Zubieta, Jon-Kar; Langenecker, Scott A.; Starkman, Monica N.
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 275(2018)
• Page Start: 21
• Page End: 27
• Publication Date: 2018-05-30
• Subjects: Ventral striatum -- MDD -- Classical music -- Anhedonia -- Major depression -- fMRI -- Mood induction; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Brain -- Imaging -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Diagnostic Imaging -- Periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; Cerveau -- Imagerie pour le diagnostic -- Périodiques; 616.890754
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2018.03.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0925-4927

Abstract

Abstract: We investigated the ability of preferred classical music to activate the nucleus accumbens in patients with Major depressive disorder (MDD). Twelve males with MDD and 10 never mentally ill male healthy controls (HC) completed measures of anhedonia and depression severity, and listened to 90-second segments of preferred classical music during fMRI. Compared to HCs, individuals with MDD showed less activation of the left nucleus accumbens (NAcc). Individuals with MDD showed attenuation of the left NAcc response in later compared to earlier parts of the experiment, supporting theories that MDD involves an inability to sustain reward network activation. Counter intuitively, we found that NAcc activity during early music listening was associated with greater depression severity. In whole-brain analyses, anhedonia scores predicted activity in regions within the default mode network, supporting previous findings. Our results support theories that MDD involves an inability to sustain reward network activation. It also highlights that pleasant classical music can engage critical neural reward circuitry in MDD. Highlights: 12 males with major depression (MDD) completed measures of anhedonia and depression. Also underwent fMRI whilst listening to preferred classical music. MDD group showed less activation of nucleus accumbens (NAcc) than healthy controls. MDD group showed attenuation of NAcc response in later compared to earlier times. Supports theories that MDD involves inability to sustain reward network activation.