Figure 1. Group differences of effective connectivity based on the seed of right and left amygdala.

ANOVA analysis shows significant differences of right amygdala-based effective connectivity in right lingual and calcarine gyrus and bilateral supplementary motor areas among the three groups. Compared with the healthy controls, the MDD-aMCI (major depression disorder - amnestic mild cognitive impairment) patients have increased effective connectivity from the right amygdala to the right lingual/calcarine gyrus, the patients with aMCI display enhanced effective connectivity from the right amygdala to the bilateral supplementary motor area compared with the aMCI group. The patients with MDD-aMCI have increased effective connectivity from the right amygdala to the right lingual/calcarine gyrus and decreased effective connectivity to the bilateral supplementary motor areas compared with the aMCI group. Based on the seed of the left amygdala, there is significant difference in effective connectivity from right amygdala to the bilateral supplementary motor areas among the three groups. Compared with healthy controls, the patients with aMCI display increased effective connectivity from the right amygdala to the bilateral supplementary motor areas. There is no difference between the MDD-aMCI and healthy controls and between MDD-aMCI and aMCI groups. The t value and F value color-coded scale are reported at the right side of the images.

Abbreviations: ANOVA, analysis of variance; D, major depressive disorder; aMCI, amnestic mild cognitive impairment; C, healthy control.