Antonino Vallesi1, Francesca Canalaz2, Matteo Balestrieri2, Paolo Brambilla3. 1. Department of Neurosciences: SNPSRR, Universitá degli Studi di Padova, Italy; Centro di Neuroscienze Cognitive, Universitá degli Studi di Padova, Italy. Electronic address: antoniovallesi@yahoo.it. 2. Department of Experimental & Clinical Medicine (DISM), Inter-University Center for Behavioural Neurosciences (ICBN), University of Udine, Udine, Italy. 3. Department of Experimental & Clinical Medicine (DISM), Inter-University Center for Behavioural Neurosciences (ICBN), University of Udine, Udine, Italy; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, TX, USA; IRCCS 'E. Medea', Scientific Institute, Udine, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Depression is associated with deficits in cognitive flexibility. The role of general slowing in modulating more specific cognitive deficits is however unclear. AIM: We assessed how depression affects the capacity to strategically adapt behavior between harsh and prudent response modalities and how general and specific processes may contribute to performance deficits. METHODS: Patients suffering from major depression and age- and education-matched healthy controls were asked to randomly stress either speed or accuracy during perceptual decision-making. RESULTS: Diffusion models showed that patients with depression kept using a less conservative strategy after a trial with speed vs. accuracy instructions. Additionally, the depression group showed a slower rate of evidence accumulation as indicated by a generally lower drift rate. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that less efficient strategic regulation of behavior in depression is due not only to general slowing, but also to more specific deficits, such as a rigid dependence on past contextual instructions. Future studies should investigate the neuro-anatomical basis of this deficit.
BACKGROUND: Depression is associated with deficits in cognitive flexibility. The role of general slowing in modulating more specific cognitive deficits is however unclear. AIM: We assessed how depression affects the capacity to strategically adapt behavior between harsh and prudent response modalities and how general and specific processes may contribute to performance deficits. METHODS: Patients suffering from major depression and age- and education-matched healthy controls were asked to randomly stress either speed or accuracy during perceptual decision-making. RESULTS: Diffusion models showed that patients with depression kept using a less conservative strategy after a trial with speed vs. accuracy instructions. Additionally, the depression group showed a slower rate of evidence accumulation as indicated by a generally lower drift rate. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that less efficient strategic regulation of behavior in depression is due not only to general slowing, but also to more specific deficits, such as a rigid dependence on past contextual instructions. Future studies should investigate the neuro-anatomical basis of this deficit.
Authors: D G Dillon; T Wiecki; P Pechtel; C Webb; F Goer; L Murray; M Trivedi; M Fava; P J McGrath; M Weissman; R Parsey; B Kurian; P Adams; T Carmody; S Weyandt; K Shores-Wilson; M Toups; M McInnis; M A Oquendo; C Cusin; P Deldin; G Bruder; D A Pizzagalli Journal: Psychol Med Date: 2015-03-02 Impact factor: 7.723