Neuroanatomy and Physiology of Cognition

Research into the neuroanatomy and physiology of cognition is a growing field with applications for the treatment of major depressive disorder. The most common cognitive impairments in people with depression are related to executive function, memory, attention, and processing speed along with negative bias. Based on data from improved imaging technology, many cognitive functions once assumed to be localized in specific areas of the brain are now thought to result from deficits in 3 key networks (the central executive network, the salience network, and the default mode network) and their interactions with each other and other brain areas. New discoveries in the connections and functions of brain networks and regions may provide novel treatment targets for cognitive symptoms in major depressive disorder.

From the Department of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.