Led by Wenjian Tan and Zhening Liu, fellow researchers at the Department of Psychiatry, China, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, China.

Highlights

• Recruitment of a large-scale brain network is essential for optimum performance of working memory. 
• Working memory deficit is a common feature of major depressive disorders and is associated with poor treatment outcomes. 

Published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry.

Summary

1. Disruption in the recruitment of some large-scale networks in the brain could result in working memory impairment in patients with major depressive disorders.
2. A general link is established between functioning of the frontoparietal network and impairment of n-back performance in patients with major depressive disorder. 
3. This relationship is further pronounced at lower levels of symptom burden, suggesting the possible role of multiple pathways in the development of cognitive deficits.

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The integration of the frontoparietal network is reduced in patients with major depressive disorder, thus affecting their working memory.