Temporoparietal structural-functional coupling abnormalities in drug-naïve first-episode major depressive disorder

Motivation: The relationship of connectivity patterns and topology of both structural and functional networks in MDD remain less well-understood. Goal(s): We aimed to measure the coupling between structural connectivity (SC) and functional connectivity (FC) to explore the interplay between structural architecture and functional communications in MDD. Approach: SC-FC couplings at system and regional levels and their relationship with topological properties and anxious depression subtype were assessed in MDD patients compared to controls. Results: MDD showed altered SC-FC coupling and topology in temporoparietal regions than controls. Specifically, right hippocampal coupling differed between anxious and non-anxious MDD patients, showing distinct correlation patterns with structural network efficiency. Impact: Our findings revealed disrupted topology-related interplay between structural and functional connectivity in temporoparietal regions in MDD, advancing understanding of MDD-related multimodal network abnormalities and highlighting the role of right hippocampal coupling alterations in identifying the anxious depression subtype.