The altered cortical connectivity during spatial search for facial expressions in major depressive disorder

► Altered directed connectivity within a cortical network was found in depression. ► Reduced N2 reflected deficits in effortful attention modulation in depression. ► PDC values showed weaker intra-frontal and intra-central directed interactions. ► PDC values showed enhanced occipital information output. ► The alterations contributed to the impaired attention modulation in depression.