Cortical Coherence Patterns (Functional Connectivity) During Emotional Processing in Bipolar Mood Disorders

Bipolar mood disorder is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in which the emotional processing deficit is a common feature of the disorder. Due to the role of cortical functions in emotional processing, the purpose of the study was to evaluate the correlations between cortical coherence patterns with positive and negative emotional stimulus processing in patients with bipolar mood disorders.

To address the goal of the study, EEG cortical coherences were assessed in 40 bipolar patients. The cortical coherences within main frequency bands of brain function were calculated through 19 channels of EEG and neuroguide software across three brain regions (anterior, central, and posterior). Emotional processing was assessed by the emotional differentiation task.

Data showed that there are significant correlations between cortical frequency bands, especially alpha and beta bands, with positive and negative emotion processing. Furthermore, multivariate regression analysis revealed that alpha, theta, and beta bands in different regions could predict 94 and 35 percent of variations in positive and negative emotions, respectively.

Due to the role of coherence of different regions of the cortex in predicting of emotional processing of patients with bipolar disorder, part of the emotional problems of patients can be modified by presenting appropriate therapeutic strategies, such as psychotherapeutic and pharmacotherapeutic approaches.