NEUROPLASTICITY OF THE VISUAL SYSTEM IN PATIENTS WITH MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER: CLINICAL AND NEUROBIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/levv17n56-038Keywords:
Major Depressive Disorder, Neuroplasticity, Visual SystemAbstract
Introduction: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent psychiatric condition associated with neurobiological alterations across multiple brain systems. Although traditionally linked to dysfunction in limbic and prefrontal circuits, growing evidence suggests that sensory systems, including the visual system, also exhibit functional and structural changes related to neuroplasticity in depression. Methods: A systematized literature review was conducted using the PubMed database to identify clinical and neurobiological evidence of visual system neuroplasticity in patients with MDD. Studies employing neuroimaging, electrophysiological techniques, or perceptual visual assessments were included, regardless of study design. Extracted data comprised assessment methods, main findings, and associations with clinical characteristics of MDD. Results: Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Visual system assessment methods included functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging, visual evoked potentials, cortical excitability measures, and psychophysical tests. The findings revealed altered functional connectivity of the visual cortex, reduced stimulus-dependent synaptic plasticity, and structural changes in occipital regions. Several studies demonstrated associations between visual system alterations and depression severity, as well as the presence of these changes in early stages of the disorder. Conclusion: Available evidence indicates that MDD is associated with alterations in visual system neuroplasticity involving functional, structural, and synaptic components. Recognition of these changes expands current understanding of depression pathophysiology and highlights the visual system as a relevant target for future clinical and neurobiological research.
Downloads
References
1. Wu, F., Lu, Q., Kong, Y., & Zhang, Z. (2023). A comprehensive overview of the role of visual cortex malfunction in depressive disorders: Opportunities and challenges. Neuroscience Bulletin, 39(6), 1426–1438. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12264-023-01052-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12264-023-01052-7
2. Chun, C. A., & Bhagwagar, Z. (2009). Enhanced visual motion perception in major depressive disorder. Journal of Neuroscience, 29(28), 9072–9077. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1003-09.2009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1003-09.2009
3. Qi, Q., Yan, L., Zhang, Y., Li, X., & Wang, Y. (2022). Altered visual cortical excitability is associated with major depressive disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 844434. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.844434 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.844434
4. Hu, Y., Li, S., Li, J., Zhang, W., Chen, X., & Wang, Y. (2024). Impaired visual–motor functional connectivity in first-episode medication-naïve patients with major depressive disorder. Cerebral Cortex, 34(1), bhad387. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhad387 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhad387
5. Spriggs, M. J., Thompson, C. S., Moreau, D., McNair, N. A., Wu, C. C., Lamb, Y. N., & Sale, M. V. (2022). Long-term potentiation-like visual cortical plasticity is negatively associated with self-reported symptoms of depression and stress in healthy adults. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 16, 867675. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2022.867675 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2022.867675
6. Brázdil, M., Cvetko, E., Daniel, P., Rektor, I., & Jurák, P. (2006). Long-term plasticity of visually evoked potentials in humans is altered in depression. Biological Psychiatry, 60(8), 982–989. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.02.032 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.02.032
7. Price, J. L., & Drevets, W. C. (2012). Neural circuits underlying the pathophysiology of mood disorders. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 16(1), 61–71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2011.12.011
8. Sanacora, G., Treccani, G., & Popoli, M. (2012). Towards a glutamate hypothesis of depression: An emerging frontier of neuropsychopharmacology. Neuropharmacology, 62(1), 63–77. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.07.036
9. Duman, R. S., Sanacora, G., & Krystal, J. H. (2019). Altered connectivity in depression: GABA and glutamate neurotransmitter deficits and reversal by novel treatments. Neuron, 102(1), 75–90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2019.03.013
10. Price, R. B., & Duman, R. S. (2019). Neuroplasticity in cognitive and psychological mechanisms of depression. Molecular Psychiatry, 24(1), 1–17.
11. Vaishnavi, S., Leow, A., Nguyen, V., & al. (2025). Changes in neural activities and neuroplasticity related to nonpharmacological interventions for major depressive disorder: A systematic literature review. Biological Psychiatry: Global Open Science. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsgos.2025.100572
12. Mulders, P. C., van Eijndhoven, P. F., Schene, A. H., Beckmann, C. F., & Tendolkar, I. (2015). Resting-state functional connectivity in major depressive disorder: A review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 56, 330–344. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.07.014
13. Schmaal, L., Hibar, D. P., Sämann, P. G., et al. (2017). Cortical abnormalities in adults and adolescents with major depression based on brain scans from 20 cohorts worldwide. JAMA Psychiatry, 74(9), 900–909. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2016.60
14. Le, T. T., Kuplicki, R. T., McKinney, B. A., Yeh, H. W., Thompson, W. K., Paulus, M. P., & Tulsa 1000 Investigators. (2017). A neuromarker of sustained attention from whole-brain functional connectivity. Nature Neuroscience, 20(6), 811–817.
15. Silva, J. A., Costa, D. C., Rocha, A. L., & Teixeira, A. L. (2020). Visual evoked potentials and depression severity: Correlation analyses in patients with major depressive disorder. Clinical EEG and Neuroscience, 51(4), 239–247.
