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World J Psychiatry. Feb 19, 2025; 15(2): 102412
Published online Feb 19, 2025. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i2.102412
Hemispheric asymmetries and network dysfunctions in adolescent depression: A neuroimaging study using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging
Ying Xiong, Ren-Qiang Yu, Xing-Yu Wang, Shun-Si Liang, Jie Ran, Xiao Li, Yi-Zhi Xu
Ying Xiong, Shun-Si Liang, Jie Ran, Yi-Zhi Xu, Department of Hematology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401147, China
Ren-Qiang Yu, Xing-Yu Wang, Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Xiao Li, Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Co-corresponding authors: Ying Xiong and Yi-Zhi Xu.
Author contributions: All authors have materially participated in the research and article preparation; Xiong Y conducted the literature review, collected the data, and drafted the manuscript; Yu RQ and Wang XY performed magnetic resonance imaging scans on the participants; Li X implemented participants intervention; Liang SL and Ran J participated in data collection and analysis; Xu YZ, in charge of the research, was responsible for project application, implementation, and article writing; All authors approved the final manuscript.
Supported by the Medical Research Project of the Chongqing Municipal Health Commission, No. 2024WSJK110.
Institutional review board statement: This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. The research was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (No. 2017-157) and the Medical Ethics Committee of Chongqing People’s Hospital (No.: KY S2024-007-01).
Clinical trial registration statement: This study is an experimental investigation without clinical intervention or treatment allocation; therefore, it does not meet the criteria for clinical trial registration as defined by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.
Informed consent statement: Written informed consents were obtained from the guardians of participants. All participants were provided with a detailed explanation of the study objectives, procedures, potential risks, and benefits before giving their consent. The study was conducted in full compliance with ethical guidelines and approved by the Institutional Review Board.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
CONSORT 2010 statement: The authors have read the CONSORT 2010 Statement, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CONSORT 2010 Statement.
Data sharing statement: The data supporting the findings of this study are openly available, please contact Ms. Xiong Y at xiongying@stu.cqmu.edu.cn.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Ying Xiong, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Hematology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing University, No. 118 Xingguang Avenue, Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing 401147, China. xiongying@stu.cqmu.edu.cn
Received: October 16, 2024
Revised: December 9, 2024
Accepted: December 25, 2024
Published online: February 19, 2025
Processing time: 89 Days and 20.8 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND

Currently, adolescent depression is one of the most significant public health concerns, markedly influencing emotional, cognitive, and social maturation. Despite advancements in distinguish the neurobiological substrates underlying depression, the intricate patterns of disrupted brain network connectivity in adolescents warrant further exploration.

AIM

To elucidate the neural correlates of adolescent depression by examining brain network connectivity using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).

METHODS

The study cohort comprised 74 depressed adolescents and 59 healthy controls aged 12 to 17 years. Participants underwent rs-fMRI to evaluate functional connectivity within and across critical brain networks, including the visual, default mode network (DMN), dorsal attention, salience, somatomotor, and frontoparietal control networks.

RESULTS

Analyses revealed pronounced functional disparities within key neural circuits among adolescents with depression. The results demonstrated existence of hemispheric asymmetries characterized by enhanced activity in the left visual network, which contrasted the diminished activity in the right hemisphere. The DMN facilitated increased activity within the left prefrontal cortex and reduced engagement in the right hemisphere, implicating disrupted self-referential and emotional processing mechanisms. Additionally, an overactive right dorsal attention network and a hypoactive salience network were identified, underscoring significant abnormalities in attentional and emotional regulation in adolescent depression.

CONCLUSION

The findings from this study underscore distinct neural connectivity disruptions in adolescent depression, underscoring the critical role of specific neurobiological markers for precise early diagnosis of adolescent depression. The observed functional asymmetries and network-specific deviations elucidate the complex neurobiological architecture of adolescent depression, supporting the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: Adolescent depression; Brain network connectivity; Neuroimaging biomarkers; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Default mode network; Salience network; Hemispheric asymmetry

Core Tip: This study explores the neural underpinnings of adolescent depression by investigating disrupted brain network connectivity through resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Key findings highlight significant hemispheric asymmetries, with enhanced activity in the left visual and default mode networks and reduced engagement in the right hemisphere. Additionally, the overactivity of the right dorsal attention network and hypoactivity of the salience network were observed, indicating impairments in emotional and attentional regulation. These distinct neurobiological markers emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and personalized therapeutic interventions for adolescent depression.