Neural Oscillations and Fronto-Parietal Network Dysregulation in Decision-Making under Uncertainty in Adolescent Depression

Abstract

Adolescence is a critical developmental period characterized by ongoing prefrontal–limbic maturation, heightened emotional reactivity, and increased sensitivity to social and environmental feedback, making this stage particularly vulnerable to depressive disorders. Adolescent Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is associated with pervasive negative cognitive biases, diminished reward responsiveness, and heightened loss aversion, which collectively drive conservative or avoidance-oriented decision-making under conditions of uncertainty. Behavioral evidence indicates that these biases impair adaptive cost–benefit evaluation, limit exploration, and reinforce withdrawal and low motivation. Neurophysiological studies using electroencephalography (EEG) reveal that these behavioral alterations are underpinned by disruptions in neural oscillations and large-scale network dynamics: beta-band activity supports reward integration and goal-directed behavior, frontal midline theta reflects heightened monitoring of negative outcomes and cognitive control, and alpha oscillations mediate inhibitory regulation and attentional gating. In adolescent depression, aberrant modulation of these frequency bands, together with imbalanced fronto–parietal connectivity and reduced engagement of motivational circuits, promotes rigid, risk-averse strategies. Understanding these neural mechanisms provides insight into maladaptive decision-making and suggests that longitudinal studies integrating EEG with structural and functional neuroimaging, as well as interventions such as cognitive training or neurofeedback targeting beta, theta, and alpha dynamics, may enhance reward processing, reduce excessive loss monitoring, and support adaptive neurocognitive development in depressed adolescents.