Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42806157›Full record

ArticleBrain imaging and behavior2026

The mediating effect of neuroticism on the association between brain signal variability in the prefrontal cortex and depression among healthy individuals.

Fengmei Lu, Yajing Pang, Ting Li, Mengfan Liu, Chen Jia, Jingjing Gao, Wei Luo, Yue Yu, Lu Wang, Qin Tang and 4 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Brain imaging and behavior, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Fengmei Lu *The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, PR China.
Yajing Pang *Henan Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Brain-Computer Interface Technology, School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
Ting LiThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, PR China.
Mengfan LiuThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, PR China.
Chen JiaThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, PR China.
Jingjing GaoSchool of Information and Communication Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, China.
Wei LuoThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, PR China.
Yue YuThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, PR China.
Lu WangThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, PR China.
Qin TangThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, PR China.
Qian CuiSchool of Public Affairs and Administration, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, PR China. qiancui26@gmail.com.
Qing GaoSchool of Mathematical Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, PR China. gaoqing@uestc.edu.cn.
Zongling HeThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, PR China. hzl_811015@126.com.
Huafu ChenThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, PR China. chenhf@uestc.edu.cn.

Funding

Medical Research Project of Chengdu 2024053Medical Research Project of Chengdu 2024150Medico-Engineering Cooperation Funds from University of Electronic Science and Technology of China ZYGX2021YGLH201Science and Technology Bureau of Chengdu Program 2024-YF05-00873-SNthe Autonomous Region Science and Technology Plan Project 2024D01A15the General Program of Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province 2026NSFSC0468the Key Technologies Research and Development Program of Henan Province 252102311096the National Key R&D Program of China 2024YFE0215100the National Natural Science Foundation of China 62173069the National Natural Science Foundation of China 62173070the National Natural Science Foundation of China 62276049, 61701078the National Natural Science Foundation of China 62333003, 82121003, 62036003the National Natural Science Foundation of China 82172059the Natural Science Foundation of China 62103377the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province 2025ZNSFSC0487
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The personality trait of neuroticism has been recognized as a risk factor for depression. Research into the interplay between brain activity, neuroticism, and subclinical depressive symptoms could potentially uncover biomarkers capable of predicting the onset of depression. Brain intrinsic signal variability, a measure of system flexibility, is related to lifespan development, cognitive performance, and mental health disorders. Despite its importance, the link between signal variability and both neuroticism and depression has not been previously explored. This study, therefore, sought to investigate the correlation between brain signal variability, neuroticism, and depressive symptoms in individuals without clinical depression. The resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected from 103 healthy right-handed individuals (63 males, 40 females; mean age 24.73 ± 8.34 years). Neuroticism and subclinical depressive symptoms were assessed by Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, respectively. To quantify brain signal variability, voxel-wise mean-squared successive difference (MSSD) was calculated. A mediation analysis was subsequently performed to explore the interrelationships among signal variability, neuroticism, and depressive symptoms. Neuroticism showed a significant negative correlation with MSSD in several brain regions, including the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), precentral gyrus, angular gyrus, and middle temporal gyrus. Additionally, MSSD in the MPFC and dlPFC were negatively associated with depressive symptoms, with neuroticism mediating this relationship. In sum, neuroticism and depressive symptoms were associated with reduced signal variability in the PFC regions. These effects suggested that dysfunctional activity within the PFC regions is linked to the etiology of depression, mediated by individual differences in neuroticism.

Indexed as

DepressionNeuroticismPrefrontal CortexAdultBrainBrain MappingFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleYoung AdultBrain signal variabilityDepressive symptomsMediationNeuroticismPrefrontal cortex

Identifiers

PMID42806157
PMCPMC13619728

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.