Brain hypoactivation, autonomic nervous system dysregulation, and gonadal hormones in depression: A preliminary study

► Decreased high-frequency RRV (HF-RRV) in women with major depression (MDD). ► No differences between MDD and control women in heart rate or R-R intervals. ► Stress response circuitry hypoactivity related to lower HF-RRV in women with MDD. ► Gonadal hormones attenuated group differences in the HF-RRV effect on hypoactivity. ► Abnormal brain-heart coupling may have implications for MDD-CVD comorbidity.