Högskolan i Skövde

This systematic review explores the complex relationship between depression, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) activity as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and working memory (WM) performance. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a search was conducted on Medline EBSCO and Web of Science databases, specifically targeting peer-reviewed, published papers in English that utilised fMRI. Three studies meeting the inclusion criteria were included. Findings from the included studies yielded conflicting results. Some studies reported hyperactivation in the DLPFC among depressed individuals, suggesting a potential compensatory mechanism to address impairments during WM tasks. Conversely, other studies found no significant differences in DLPFC activity between depressed individuals and healthy controls. Regarding WM performance, studies revealed heterogeneity among depressed individuals compared to controls. While some indicated no significant differences between groups, others highlighted slower performance and decreased accuracy in depressed individuals. This review underscores the necessity for cohesive methodologies to advance understanding of depression-related cognitive impairments. While deficits in WM were observed in individuals with depression, the precise neural correlates of these impairments remain unclear, pointing to possibilities for further research and potential implications for clinical practice.