A functional neuroimaging investigation of brain pathways involved in patients during active mania using Stroop Colour Word Test

Abstract

Introduction Cognitive deficits are characteristic features of mania but their underlying pathways are not well defined. Aims and objectives The present study was conducted to explore the various brain regions implicated in response inhibition in active mania. Methods After obtaining ethical clearance from the Institute Review Board, we recruited 30 subjects with active mania and 15 healthy controls using purposive sampling. Computerized version of the Stroop Colour Word Test was used. Results The two groups were similar on socio-demographic variables. No difference in performance was seen in the two groups on the total number of correct and incorrect responses and reaction times for correct responses on incongruent condition of the Stroop Test. However, subjects in the mania group were quicker in making incorrect responses. During incongruent condition of Stroop test, in the mania group (Fig. 2), only left fusiform gyrus was activated in comparison to the control group (Fig. 1), which had left cingulate gyrus, right frontal lobe, and superior temporal gyrus activation. Discussion It is evident that mania group performed relatively poorly on response inhibition task since they took lesser time to make incorrect responses. This may be explained by the non-activation of frontal areas, responsible for the executive functioning.