Abstract
Major depression disorder (MDD) is characterized by cognitive control (CC) dysfunctions associated with increased attention toward negative information. The paced auditory serial addition task (PASAT) has been used as a targeted training of CC and studies show promising effects on depressive symptoms. However, neural mechanisms underlying its efficacy are still unclear. Based on previous findings of feedback-locked event-related potentials in healthy subjects, we investigated neural signatures during PASAT performance in 46 depressed patients. We found significantly larger amplitudes after negative than positive feedback for the P300 and late positive potential (LPP). However, this difference was not significant for the feedback-related negativity (FRN). Moreover, no associations of valence-specific ERPs and PASAT performance nor depressive symptoms were found. This indicates that depressed patients seem unable to use neural activation in late feedback processing stages (P300, LPP) to adapt accordingly. Moreover, lack of valence-specific neural reaction in early feedback processing stages (FRN) might point toward emotional indifference in depressed patients.Trial registration number: NCT03518749 Date of registration: May 8, 2018.
Highlights
Flexible adaptation of cognitive resources according to internal goals is an important prerequisite of goal-directed human behavior
The goal of the current study was to investigate neural mechanisms underlying cognitive control trainings (CCT) for depressive symptoms by means of neural signatures of the paced auditory serial addition task (PASAT) found in healthy participants
In line with our hypotheses, we found negative affect significantly increased after PASAT performance; this change, was not correlated with PASAT performance
Summary
Flexible adaptation of cognitive resources according to internal goals is an important prerequisite of goal-directed human behavior. This top–down-driven cognitive control (CC) is impaired in depressed patients, resulting in difficulties disengaging from negative thoughts, emotions, and information (Baert et al 2010). CC deficits have been found to be associated with the development and maintenance of MDD (Gotlib and Joormann 2010; LeMoult and Gotlib 2019). Trainings that directly target disrupted CC functions are promising new treatment methods. In cognitive control trainings (CCT), patients repeatedly perform tasks on various cognitive functions, such as working memory, processing speed, or continuous attention.
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