Intrinsic connectivity disorganization of anterior cingulate cortex functional subdivisions in major depressive disorder

Motivation: The fine-grained boundary and number of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) functional subdivisions and their anomalous connectivity architectures in major depressive disorder (MDD) remained undetermined. Goal(s): To obtain optimal ACC functional subdivisions and discern intrinsic connectivity alterations of ACC subregions related to MDD. Approach: We utilized a data-driven connectivity-based parcellation to define optimal ACC partitions, and identified MDD-related ACC subregional functional connectivity abnormalities and their relationship with clinical manifestations. Results: A bipartite ventral-dorsal ACC per hemisphere was identified as optimal parcellation. We further discovered ventral ACC-based hypoconnectivity and dorsal ACC-based hyperconnectivity with default mode network in MDD, which held relevance to different clinical symptoms. Impact: Our discovery of differentiated connectivity architectures of CBP-derived ventral-dorsal ACC functional bipartitions in MDD, with a ventral ACC-based hypoconnectivity related with core depressed symptoms while a dorsal ACC-based hyperconnectivity linked to maladaptive behaviors, could potentially guide more precise targeted interventions.