Han JM, Zhang JZ, Wu YW, Zhang J, Wang XY, Liu XH, Wang J, Zhou ZH. Advances in electrophysiological research on emotional and reward processing in major depressive disorder. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(6): 116800 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i6.116800]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Zhen-He Zhou, MD, PhD, Chief Physician, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Mental Health Center of Jiangnan University, No. 156 Qianrong Road, Wuxi 214151, Jiangsu Province, China. zhouzh@jiangnan.edu.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Psychiatry
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review-article
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Han JM, Zhang JZ, Wu YW, Zhang J, Wang XY, Liu XH, Wang J, Zhou ZH. Advances in electrophysiological research on emotional and reward processing in major depressive disorder. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(6): 116800 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i6.116800]
Jia-Min Han, Jia-Zhao Zhang, Ya-Wen Wu, Jing Zhang, Xin-Yu Wang, Xiao-Hong Liu, Jun Wang, Zhen-He Zhou, Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Mental Health Center of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214151, Jiangsu Province, China
Co-first authors: Jia-Min Han and Jia-Zhao Zhang.
Co-corresponding authors: Jun Wang and Zhen-He Zhou.
Author contributions: Han JM and Zhang JZ collected and organized the literature, drafted the manuscript and they contributed equally to this manuscript and are co-first authors; Wu YW, Zhang J, Wang XY, and Liu XH assisted with literature collection; Han JM, Zhang JZ, Wu YW, Zhang J, Wang XY, and Liu XH revised the manuscript; Wang J and Zhou ZH designed the study and they contributed equally to this manuscript and are co-corresponding authors. All authors contributed to the manuscript revision and approved the final version of the manuscript.
AI contribution statement: In the course of preparing this manuscript, we utilized ChatGPT to enhance the linguistic quality. Following the application of this tool, we conducted a thorough review and made necessary edits to the content, assuming full responsibility for the publication’s final version.
Supported by the Wuxi Taihu Talent Project, No. WXTTP2021.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Zhen-He Zhou, MD, PhD, Chief Physician, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Mental Health Center of Jiangnan University, No. 156 Qianrong Road, Wuxi 214151, Jiangsu Province, China. zhouzh@jiangnan.edu.cn
Received: November 21, 2025 Revised: February 21, 2026 Accepted: March 20, 2026 Published online: June 19, 2026 Processing time: 189 Days and 4.2 Hours
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by persistent low mood and anhedonia, indicative of fundamental disruptions in emotion regulation and reward processing. With advancements in high-temporal resolution electrophysiological techniques, electroencephalography/event-related potentials have become crucial for identifying the dynamic neural signatures associated with these dysfunctions. This review synthesizes recent evidence regarding the electrophysiological underpinnings, abnormal patterns, neural circuitry, and molecular mechanisms that contribute to emotional and reward processing deficits in MDD. It further explores the potential of these deficits to serve as endophenotypes and transdiagnostic features, and it outlines mechanism-based interventions and translational findings. Current research reveals extensive electrophysiological abnormalities across various stages of emotional and reward processing, implicating dysfunction within specific cortical-limbic pathways and molecular systems. These insights hold significant implications for enhancing the diagnosis, treatment, and mechanistic understanding of MDD.
Core Tip: This review elucidates electrophysiological evidence indicating that major depressive disorder is characterized by widespread abnormalities in emotional and reward processing. By synthesizing event-related potentials markers with disruptions in prefrontal-limbic and mesocorticolimbic circuits, it identifies these deficits as potential endophenotypes and transdiagnostic features. Furthermore, the review provides a summary of emerging mechanism-based interventions that demonstrate promising translational potential.
