White matter tracts associated with iTBS-induced heart rate deceleration and treatment response in major depressive disorder.

ABSTRACT: Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) is a well-established treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD), but predicting clinical outcomes remains challenging. Heart rate deceleration induced by iTBS has emerged as a potential biomarker for treatment response, yet the role of white matter (WM) properties in mediating these effects is largely unexplored. In this quadruple-blind, crossover study, we investigated the relationship between WM microstructure, iTBS-driven heart rate modulation, and antidepressant effects. Using correlational tractography, we focused on four major WM tracts-the cingulum, fornix, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and uncinate fasciculus-to examine short-term microstructural changes in relation to therapeutic outcomes. At baseline, findings revealed that frac

SUBMITTER: Wilkening J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12537985 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature