Prefrontal EEG Delta-Beta Coupling Marks Depressed State in Adult Siblings
- 1Northwestern University
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is marked by disorganization in electrophysiological brain networks, yet it remains unclear whether such disorganization reflects the state-dependent pathological effects or a trait-like vulnerability. We analyzed resting-state electroencephalographic (EEG) delta-beta phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) in two sibling cohorts. Current-MDD families included individuals with current MDD and their currently unaffected siblings (n=36), and remitted-MDD families comprised individuals with remitted MDD and their lifetime unaffected siblings (n=110). Delta-betahigh PAC was significantly elevated (pcorr[≤]0.05) over the left-medial frontal region in participants with current MDD relative to their unaffected siblings. In the remitted-MDD families, no significant differences were observed. Regrouping all individuals irrespective of family ties into current MDD, remitted MDD, and never-depressed controls confirmed significantly elevated frontal delta-betahigh PAC at rest in the current-MDD subgroup compared to other subgroups. Overall, delta-betahigh coupling reflects the depressive state rather than a trait-like or familial vulnerability.
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BibTeX
@misc{elhamiasl2026prefrontal,
title = {{Prefrontal EEG Delta-Beta Coupling Marks Depressed State in Adult Siblings}},
author = {M. Elhamiasl and L. Y. Li and F. A. Maldonado Osorio and B. I. Rappaport and S. A. Shankman and I. Alekseichuk},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.01.26364438},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.01.26364438v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Prefrontal EEG Delta-Beta Coupling Marks Depressed State in Adult Siblings
AU - M. Elhamiasl
AU - L. Y. Li
AU - F. A. Maldonado Osorio
AU - B. I. Rappaport
AU - S. A. Shankman
AU - I. Alekseichuk
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.01.26364438
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.01.26364438v1
AB - Major depressive disorder (MDD) is marked by disorganization in electrophysiological brain networks, yet it remains unclear whether such disorganization reflects the state-dependent pathological effects or a trait-like vulnerability. We analyzed resting-state electroencephalographic (EEG) delta-beta phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) in two sibling cohorts. Current-MDD families included individuals with current MDD and their currently unaffected siblings (n=36), and remitted-MDD families comprised individuals with remitted MDD and their lifetime unaffected siblings (n=110). Delta-betahigh PAC was significantly elevated (pcorr[≤]0.05) over the left-medial frontal region in participants with current MDD relative to their unaffected siblings. In the remitted-MDD families, no significant differences were observed. Regrouping all individuals irrespective of family ties into current MDD, remitted MDD, and never-depressed controls confirmed significantly elevated frontal delta-betahigh PAC at rest in the current-MDD subgroup compared to other subgroups. Overall, delta-betahigh coupling reflects the depressive state rather than a trait-like or familial vulnerability.
ER -