Functional connectivity in major depression: Increased phase synchronization between frontal cortical EEG-source estimates

Structural and metabolic alterations in prefrontal brain areas including the subgenual (SGPFC), medial (MPFC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) have been shown in major depressive disorder (MDD). Still it remains largely unknown how brain connectivity within these regions is altered at the level of neuronal oscillations. Therefore the goal was to analyze prefrontal electroencephalogram (EEG) phase synchrony in MDD and its changes after antidepressant treatment. In 60 unmedicated patients and 60 healthy controls (HC) a 15 minute resting EEG was recorded at baseline and in a subgroup after two weeks of an…