Differences in the Efficacy of Cognitive Function Treatment Related to Functional Patterns in the Frontal‐Limbic Network in Patients With Bipolar Disorder

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify neurobiomarkers that predict the efficacy of treatment of cognition in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). METHODS: Regional homogeneity (ReHo) and degree centrality (DC) values, which are two functional magnetic resonance imaging indicators, were analyzed to compare differences in brain activities between patients with BD and healthy controls (HC). RESULTS: BD patients (N = 92) exhibited increased activity in the right hippocampus or right parahippocampal gyrus compared to HC, while their ReHo and DC values in the left middle frontal gyrus decreased in the resting state. The delayed memory scores were predicted by using connectome-based predictive modeling in patients with BD at baseline. After 12 weeks of treatment, the patients with BD, whose cognitive function improved (n = 24), showed activity in the right superior temporal gyrus (STG) and left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) at baseline. The improvement in cognitive function of patients with BD is distinguished by abnormal activities using support vector machine analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The abnormal frontal-limbic network plays a critical role in the underlying neuropathological mechanism of cognitive impairment in patients with BD. The right STG and left ACC hold the potential to serve as neurobiomarkers for predicting the clinical efficacy of cognitive function treatment. These regions provide additional target options for future physical treatments of cognitive impairment in patients with BD.