Measuring the attention networks and quantitative-electroencephalography correlates of attention in depression

Ashley M Francis; Jenna N Bissonnette; Krista M Hull; Jennifer Leckey; Laura Pimer; Michael A Lawrence; Lindsay I Berrigan; Derek J Fisher

doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2023.111661

Measuring the attention networks and quantitative-electroencephalography correlates of attention in depression

Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2023 Aug:333:111661. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2023.111661. Epub 2023 May 24.

Authors

Ashley M Francis¹, Jenna N Bissonnette², Krista M Hull³, Jennifer Leckey³, Laura Pimer⁴, Michael A Lawrence⁵, Lindsay I Berrigan⁶, Derek J Fisher⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, NS, Canada; Department of Psychology, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada.
² Department of Psychology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS, Canada; Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
³ Department of Psychology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada; Department of Psychology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
⁵ Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
⁶ Department of Psychology, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada.
⁷ Department of Psychology, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, NS, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada; Department of Psychology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS, Canada; Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. Electronic address: derek.fisher@msvu.ca.

PMID: 37331318
DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2023.111661

Abstract

Given the association between major depressive disorder (MDD) and cortical inefficiency related to executive control, specifically in the sense that individuals with MDD may recruit more cognitive resources to complete tasks at the same capacity as those without MDD, the current study was interested in examining the attention networks and executive functioning of those with MDD. Past research has used the Attention Network Test (ANT) to measure changes of attention in clinical vs. healthy populations; however, theoretical concerns have been raised regarding the task. The Combined Attention Systems Task (CAST) was developed to address these concerns and was used in our study in combination with quantitative-electroencephalography (QEEG) to assess both behavioural and neurophysiological changes in participants with MDD (n = 18) compared to healthy controls (HCs; n = 22). We found no behavioural differences between MDD and HC groups suggesting individuals with MDD in our sample were not experiencing the executive functioning deficits previously reported in the literature. Neurophysiological measures of attention revealed that MDD participants had greater theta and alpha₁ activity relative to HCs, suggesting that although individuals with MDD do not show deficits in behavioural attention, they exhibit altered neural processing which underlies cognitive function.

Keywords: Attention; Attention network task; Cognitive functioning; Depression; Executive function; Major depressive disorder; Mental illness.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cognition
Depression
Depressive Disorder, Major*
Electroencephalography
Executive Function / physiology
Humans