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Aggarwal N, Tromp DP, Blackford JU, Pine DS, Roseboom PH, Williams LE, Kalin NH. Sex-Specific Distributed White Matter Microarchitectural Alterations in Preadolescent Youths With Anxiety Disorders: A Mega-Analytic Study. Am J Psychiatry 2024; 181:299-309. [PMID: 38476042 PMCID: PMC11129321 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20221048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric disorders in youths and emerge during childhood. This is also a period of rapid white matter (WM) development, which is critical for efficient neuronal communication. Previous work in preadolescent children with anxiety disorders demonstrated anxiety disorder-related reductions in WM microstructural integrity (fractional anisotropy [FA]) in the uncinate fasciculus (UF), the major WM tract facilitating prefrontal cortical-limbic structural connectivity. Importantly, this association was found only in boys with anxiety disorders. To confirm this finding and more comprehensively understand WM changes in childhood anxiety, this mega-analytic study characterizes WM alterations related to anxiety disorders and sex in the largest sample of preadolescent children to date. METHODS Diffusion tensor imaging data from published studies of preadolescent children with anxiety disorders and healthy volunteers (ages 8-12) (N=198) were combined with a new data set (N=97) for a total sample of 165 children with anxiety disorders and 132 healthy volunteers. Children with anxiety disorders met DSM-5 criteria for current generalized, separation, and/or social anxiety disorder. Analyses of tractography and voxel-wise data assessed between-group differences (anxiety disorder vs. healthy volunteer), effects of sex, and their interaction. RESULTS Tract-based and voxel-wise analyses confirmed a significant reduction in UF FA in boys but not girls with anxiety disorders. Results also demonstrated other significant widespread anxiety disorder-related WM alterations specifically in boys, including in multiple commissural, association, projection, and brainstem regions. CONCLUSIONS In addition to confirming male-specific anxiety disorder-related reductions in UF FA, the results demonstrate that anxiety disorders in boys and not girls are associated with broadly distributed WM alterations across the brain. These findings support further studies focused on understanding the extent to which WM alterations in boys with anxiety disorders are involved in pathophysiological processes that mediate anxiety disorders. The findings also suggest the possibility that WM microarchitecture could serve as a novel treatment target for childhood anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nakul Aggarwal
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53719, United States
| | - Do P.M. Tromp
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53719, United States
| | - Jennifer U. Blackford
- Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States
| | - Daniel S. Pine
- Section on Developmental and Affective Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States
| | - Patrick H. Roseboom
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53719, United States
| | - Lisa E. Williams
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53719, United States
| | - Ned H. Kalin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53719, United States
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Parsaei M, Hasehmi SM, Seyedmirzaei H, Cattarinussi G, Sambataro F, Brambilla P, Delvecchio G. Microstructural white matter alterations associated with social anxiety disorders: A systematic review. J Affect Disord 2024; 350:78-88. [PMID: 38220105 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by impaired social functioning that negatively impacts individuals' quality of life. Previous neuroimaging studies have revealed morphological and functional changes in various brain regions associated with SAD. Recent advances in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) have enabled the investigation of microstructural white matter (WM) alterations in SAD. This study aims to provide an overview of DTI/DWI studies exploring WM microstructure changes in SAD. METHODS A systematic search on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO was conducted for relevant records on July 8, 2023. An exploratory meta-analysis was also performed. RESULTS Eight studies were reviewed. Consistent findings indicated reduced fractional anisotropy and increased diffusivity measures in different WM tracts in SAD patients compared to healthy controls. These alterations were mostly observed within regions of the fronto-limbic network, like uncinate fasciculus (UF) and superior and inferior longitudinal fasciculi (SLF and ILF). Finally, our exploratory meta-analysis on four studies utilizing a voxel-wise analytic approach yielded no significant differences between SAD patients and controls. LIMITATIONS Limited number of studies, small sample sizes, and heterogeneity in analysis methods. CONCLUSIONS Patients with SAD exhibited altered WM integrity, particularly in the UF, SLF, and ILF, compared to healthy controls. However, due to the limited number of included studies, our meta-analysis yielded no significant differences between SAD patients and controls. Therefore, future research is crucial to unravel the link between altered WM structure and the involvement of other limbic and cortical structures in SAD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadamin Parsaei
- Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Research Center, Family Health Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Homa Seyedmirzaei
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Research Program Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Giulia Cattarinussi
- Department of Neuroscience (DNS), Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padua, Italy; Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Fabio Sambataro
- Department of Neuroscience (DNS), Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padua, Italy; Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Paolo Brambilla
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Delvecchio
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
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Zhao J, Song Z, Zhao Y, Thiebaut de Schotten M, Altarelli I, Ramus F. White matter connectivity in uncinate fasciculus accounts for visual attention span in developmental dyslexia. Neuropsychologia 2022; 177:108414. [PMID: 36343707 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2022.108414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the role of connectivity disruptions in two fiber pathways, the uncinate fasciculus (UF) and the frontal aslant tract (FAT), in developmental dyslexia and determine the relationship between the connectivity of these pathways and behavioral performance in children with dyslexia. A total of 26 French children with dyslexia and 31 age-matched control children were included. Spherical deconvolution tractography was used to reconstruct the two fiber pathways. Hindrance-modulated oriented anisotropy (HMOA) was used to measure the connectivity of each fiber pathway in both hemispheres. Only boys with dyslexia showed reduced HMOA in the UF compared to control boys. Furthermore, HMOA of the UF correlated with individual differences in the visual attention span in participants with dyslexia. All significant results found in HMOA of the UF were verified in fractional anisotropy (FA) of the UF using standard diffusion imaging model. This study suggests a differential sex effect on the connectivity disruption in the UF in developmental dyslexia. It also indicates that the UF may play an essential role in the visual attention span deficit in developmental dyslexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Zhao
- School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Zujun Song
- School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yueye Zhao
- School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Michel Thiebaut de Schotten
- Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives-UMR5293, CNRS, CEA, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Brain Connectivity and Behavior Laboratory, Sorbonne Universities, Paris, France
| | - Irene Altarelli
- LaPsyDÉ Laboratory (UMR 8240), Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Franck Ramus
- Laboratoire de Sciences Cognitives et Psycholinguistique (ENS, EHESS, CNRS), Département D'Etudes Cognitives, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Paris, France.
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4
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Large-scale dysfunctional white matter and grey matter networks in patients with social anxiety disorder. iScience 2022; 25:105094. [PMID: 36185352 PMCID: PMC9519591 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction of large-scale brain networks has been implicated in social anxiety disorder (SAD); most work has focused on grey matter (GM) functional connectivity (FC) abnormalities, whereas white matter (WM) FC alterations remain unclear. Here, using a K-means clustering algorithm, we obtained 8 GM and 10 WM functional networks from a cohort dataset (48 SAD patients and 48 healthy controls). By calculating and comparing FC matrices between SAD group and healthy controls, we demonstrated disrupted connections between the limbic and dorsal prefrontal, lateral temporal, and sensorimotor networks, and between the visual and sensorimotor networks. Furthermore, there were negative correlations between HAMD scores and limbic-dorsal prefrontal and limbic-sensorimotor networks, and between illness duration and sensorimotor-visual networks. These findings reflect the critical role of limbic network, with its extensive connections to other networks, and the neurobiology of disordered cognition processing and emotional regulation in SAD. Anomalous interactions between large-scale functional networks were identified in SAD The limbic, prefrontal, and perceptual networks underlie the neurobiology of SAD The white matter functional network is physiologically important
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Palser ER, Miller ZA, Licata AE, Yabut NA, Sudarsan SP, Tee BL, Deleon JA, Mandelli ML, Caverzasi E, Sturm VE, Hendren R, Possin KL, Miller BL, Tempini MLG, Pereira CW. Visual and social differences in dyslexia: deep phenotyping of four cases with spared phonology. Neurocase 2022; 28:419-431. [PMID: 36450280 PMCID: PMC9957930 DOI: 10.1080/13554794.2022.2145905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Diagnostic criteria for dyslexia describe specific reading difficulties, and single-deficit models, including the phonological deficit theory, have prevailed. Children seeking diagnosis, however, do not always show phonological deficits, and may present with strengths and challenges beyond reading. Through extensive neurological, neuropsychological, and academic evaluation, we describe four children with visuospatial, socio-emotional, and attention impairments and spared phonology, alongside long-standing reading difficulties. Diffusion tensor imaging revealed white matter alterations in inferior longitudinal, uncinate, and superior longitudinal fasciculi versus neurotypical children. Findings emphasize that difficulties may extend beyond reading in dyslexia and underscore the value of deep phenotyping in learning disabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor R. Palser
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Dyslexia Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Zachary A. Miller
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Dyslexia Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Abigail E. Licata
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Dyslexia Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Nicole A. Yabut
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Dyslexia Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Swati P Sudarsan
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Dyslexia Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Boon Lead Tee
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Dyslexia Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jessica A. Deleon
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Dyslexia Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Maria Luisa Mandelli
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Dyslexia Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Eduardo Caverzasi
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Dyslexia Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Virginia E. Sturm
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Dyslexia Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94131, USA
| | - Robert Hendren
- Dyslexia Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94131, USA
| | - Katherine L. Possin
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Bruce L. Miller
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Maria Luisa Gorno Tempini
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Dyslexia Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94131, USA
| | - Christa Watson Pereira
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Dyslexia Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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Acute neurofunctional effects of escitalopram during emotional processing in pediatric anxiety: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:1081-1087. [PMID: 34580419 PMCID: PMC8938471 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01186-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders in adolescents. However, only 50% of pediatric patients with anxiety disorders respond to the first-line pharmacologic treatments-selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Thus, identifying the neurofunctional targets of SSRIs and finding pretreatment or early-treatment neurofunctional markers of SSRI treatment response in this population is clinically important. We acquired pretreatment and early-treatment (2 weeks into treatment) functional magnetic resonance imaging during a continuous processing task with emotional and neutral distractors in adolescents with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD, N = 36) randomized to 8 weeks of double-blind escitalopram or placebo. Generalized psychophysiological interaction analysis was conducted to examine the functional connectivity of the amygdala while patients viewed emotional pictures. Full-factorial analysis was used to investigate the treatment effect of escitalopram on amygdala connectivity. Correlation analyses were performed to explore whether pretreatment and early (week 2) treatment-related connectivity were associated with treatment response (improvement in anxiety) at week 8. Compared to placebo, escitalopram enhanced emotional processing speed and enhanced negative right amygdala-bilateral ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and positive left amygdala-right angular gyrus connectivity during emotion processing. Baseline amygdala-vmPFC connectivity and escitalopram-induced increased amygdala-angular gyrus connectivity at week 2 predicted the magnitude of subsequent improvement in anxiety symptoms. These findings suggest that amygdala connectivity to hubs of the default mode network represents a target of acute SSRI treatment. Furthermore, pretreatment and early-treatment amygdala connectivity could serve as biomarkers of SSRI treatment response in adolescents with GAD. The trial registration for the study is ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02818751.
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Aggarwal N, Williams LE, Tromp DPM, Pine DS, Kalin NH. A dynamic relation between whole-brain white matter microstructural integrity and anxiety symptoms in preadolescent females with pathological anxiety. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:57. [PMID: 35136030 PMCID: PMC8825837 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01827-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathological anxiety typically emerges during preadolescence and has been linked to alterations in white matter (WM) pathways. Because myelination is critical for efficient neuronal communication, characterizing associations between WM microstructure and symptoms may provide insights into pathophysiological mechanisms associated with childhood pathological anxiety. This longitudinal study examined 182 girls enrolled between the ages of 9-11 that were treatment-naïve at study entry: healthy controls (n = 49), subthreshold-anxiety disorders (AD) (n = 82), or meeting DSM-5 criteria for generalized, social, and/or separation ADs (n = 51), as determined through structured clinical interview. Anxiety severity was assessed with the Clinical Global Impression Scale and Screen for Child Anxiety and Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED). Participants (n = 182) underwent clinical, behavioral, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) assessments at study entry, and those with pathological anxiety (subthreshold-AD and AD, n = 133) were followed longitudinally for up to 3 additional years. Cross-sectional ANCOVAs (182 scans) examining control, subthreshold-AD, and AD participants found no significant relations between anxiety and DTI measurements. However, in longitudinal analyses of girls with pathological anxiety (343 scans), linear mixed-effects models demonstrated that increases in anxiety symptoms (SCARED scores) were associated with reductions in whole-brain fractional anisotropy, independent of age (Std. β (95% CI) = -0.06 (-0.09 to -0.03), F(1, 46.24) = 11.90, P = 0.001). Using a longitudinal approach, this study identified a dynamic, within-participant relation between whole-brain WM microstructural integrity and anxiety in girls with pathological anxiety. Given the importance of WM microstructure in modulating neural communication, this finding suggests the possibility that WM development could be a viable target in the treatment of anxiety-related psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nakul Aggarwal
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 6001 Research Park Boulevard, Madison, WI, 53719, USA.
| | - Lisa E. Williams
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 6001 Research Park Boulevard, Madison, WI 53719 USA
| | - Do P. M. Tromp
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 6001 Research Park Boulevard, Madison, WI 53719 USA
| | - Daniel S. Pine
- grid.416868.50000 0004 0464 0574Section on Developmental and Affective Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20814 USA
| | - Ned H. Kalin
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 6001 Research Park Boulevard, Madison, WI 53719 USA
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Gorman BDA, Calamante F, Civier O, DeMayo MM, Demetriou EA, Hickie IB, Guastella AJ. Investigating white matter structure in social anxiety disorder using fixel-based analysis. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 143:30-37. [PMID: 34438201 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is one of the most common mental health disorders in youth, defined by a persistent and intense fear of negative evaluation by others. Recent research has examined its neurological underpinnings, including structural connectivity changes in the brain. This has been examined through measurement of the white matter (WM) structure of fibre pathways. Previous studies have shown inconsistent results. This study attempts to resolve these inconsistencies by utilising a recently proposed, advanced method for diffusion MRI analysis, known as fixel based analysis (FBA). This technique enables examination of WM macro- and micro-structure with measures of fibre density (FD), fibre bundle cross-section (FC) and fibre density-cross-section (FDC). This study evidenced increased FDC in a region of the right superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) from a whole brain FBA, along with increased FC and FDC from an analysis restricted to a-priori tracts of interest, in regions of the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus (R-ILF). The average FDC of the left uncinate fasciculus (L-UF) was also increased. To examine the relationship between WM structure and severity of symptoms, these FBA metrics were correlated with Leibowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) scores. From the tract-restricted analysis an inverse correlation between FC and LSAS scores was found in the R-ILF. The average FC of the R-ILF was also inversely correlated with symptom severity. By utilising a more sensitive and fibre-specific method of analysis than previous studies, these findings highlight innovative outcomes relating to white matter in numerous fibre tracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben D A Gorman
- Autism Clinic for Translational Research, Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Fernando Calamante
- School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Sydney Imaging, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Oren Civier
- School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Swinburne University of Technology, Swinburne Neuroimaging, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marilena M DeMayo
- Autism Clinic for Translational Research, Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Brain and Mind Centre, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Eleni Andrea Demetriou
- Autism Clinic for Translational Research, Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ian B Hickie
- Brain and Mind Centre, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Adam J Guastella
- Autism Clinic for Translational Research, Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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Kim SE, Bang M, Won E, Lee SH. Association between Uncinate Fasciculus Integrity and Agoraphobia Symptoms in Female Patients with Panic Disorder. CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE 2021; 19:63-72. [PMID: 33508789 PMCID: PMC7851457 DOI: 10.9758/cpn.2021.19.1.63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Objective Although neural correlates of sub-clinical agoraphobia (AG) symptoms have been previously suggested, only a few studies evaluating structural changes of the brain have been conducted in agoraphobic patients with panic disorder (PD). We investigated and compared white matter (WM) micro-structural alterations between PD patients with AG (PD + AG) and those without AG (PD − AG). Methods Our study included 56 female PD patients, of which 25 were diagnosed with AG and 31 were diagnosed without AG. Diffusion tensor imaging was performed to investigate micro-structural changes in the WM tracts related to fronto-temporo-occipital areas (uncinate fasciculus, cingulum bundle, inferior longitudinal/fronto-occipital fasciculus, fornix column and body, and fornix/stria terminalis). All participants were subjected to the Anxiety Sensitivity Inventory-Revised (ASI-R), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and Albany Panic and Phobia questionnaires. Results The fractional anisotropy values of the right uncinate fasciculus in PD + AG were significantly lower than that of PD − AG and showed significant correlations with BDI-II and ASI-R total scores. Mean diffusivity and radial diffusivity values of the right uncinate fasciculus were significantly higher in PD + AG as compared to PD − AG. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the uncinate fasciculus may be associated with AG symptoms in PD, possibly through demyelination. Our findings may contribute to the neurobiological evidence regarding the association between AG and WM structural changes in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Eun Kim
- Departments of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Minji Bang
- Departments of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Eunsoo Won
- Departments of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Sang-Hyuk Lee
- Departments of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
- Departments of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
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Roelofs EF, Bas-Hoogendam JM, van Ewijk H, Ganjgahi H, van der Werff SJA, Barendse MEA, Westenberg PM, Vermeiren RRJM, van der Wee NJA. Investigating microstructure of white matter tracts as candidate endophenotypes of Social Anxiety Disorder - Findings from the Leiden Family Lab study on Social Anxiety Disorder (LFLSAD). NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2020; 28:102493. [PMID: 33395984 PMCID: PMC7691726 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a mental illness with a complex, partially genetic background. Differences in characteristics of white matter (WM) microstructure have been reported in patients with SAD compared to healthy controls. Also, WM characteristics are moderately to highly heritable. Endophenotypes are measurable characteristics on the road from genotype to phenotype, putatively reflective of genetically based disease mechanisms. In search of candidate endophenotypes of SAD we used a unique sample of SAD patients and their family members of two generations to explore microstructure of WM tracts as candidate endophenotypes. We focused on two endophenotype criteria: co-segregation with social anxiety within the families, and heritability. METHODS Participants (n = 94 from 8 families genetically vulnerable for SAD) took part in the Leiden Family Lab Study on Social Anxiety Disorder (LFLSAD). We employed tract-based spatial statistics to examine structural WM characteristics, being fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), mean diffusivity (MD) and radial diffusivity (RD), in three a-priori defined tracts of interest: uncinate fasciculus (UF), superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) and inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF). Associations with social anxiety symptoms and heritability were estimated. RESULTS Increased FA in the left and right SLF co-segregated with symptoms of social anxiety. These findings were coupled with decreased RD and MD. All characteristics of WM microstructure were estimated to be at least moderately heritable. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that alterations in WM microstructure in the SLF could be candidate endophenotypes of SAD, as they co-segregated within families genetically vulnerable for SAD and are heritable. These findings further elucidate the genetic susceptibility to SAD and improve our understanding of the overall etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline F Roelofs
- Curium-LUMC, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Janna Marie Bas-Hoogendam
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands; Developmental and Educational Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Hanneke van Ewijk
- Curium-LUMC, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Habib Ganjgahi
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
| | - Steven J A van der Werff
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | | | - P Michiel Westenberg
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands; Developmental and Educational Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Robert R J M Vermeiren
- Curium-LUMC, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Nic J A van der Wee
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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11
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Altered Default Mode Network and Salience Network Functional Connectivity in Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorders: An ICA-Based Resting-State fMRI Study. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2020; 2020:4048916. [PMID: 32855650 PMCID: PMC7443230 DOI: 10.1155/2020/4048916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the role of the default mode network (DMN) and salience network (SN) in the assessment of pathophysiology of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) through analyzing the characteristics of internal function connectivity (FC) and to investigate the relationship of FC with Hamilton anxiety (HAMA) scale scores in untreated GAD patients during a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Rs-fMRI and HAMA scale scoring were performed in 51 GAD patients (31 GAD patients with liver stagnation transforming into fire type and 20 GAD patients with stagnation of liver-Qi syndrome type) and 20 healthy controls. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to assess the association between HAMA scores and abnormal brain FC. Compared with healthy controls, the FC of the right medial prefrontal gyrus of the DMN and the right superior temporal gyrus of the SN increased significantly in the GAD patients (P < 0.001). However, the FC of the left middle frontal gyrus and bilateral medial superior frontal gyrus of the SN reduced significantly in the GAD patients with stagnation of liver-Qi syndrome type as compared with healthy controls and GAD patients with liver stagnation transforming into fire type (P < 0.001). There was no relationship between abnormal brain FC and HAMA scores. In conclusion, the FC of the DMN and SN may be abnormal in the GAD patients at the resting state. The aberrant FC of some crucial brain regions of these networks may contribute to the pathophysiology of GAD.
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12
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Yang C, Zhang Y, Lu M, Ren J, Li Z. White Matter Structural Brain Connectivity of Young Healthy Individuals With High Trait Anxiety. Front Neurol 2020; 10:1421. [PMID: 32116992 PMCID: PMC7031248 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.01421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Although functional brain connectivity in anxiety-related disorders has been studied, brain connectivity in non-clinical populations with high trait anxiety has been rarely reported. Whether structural brain connectivity changes in young healthy individuals with high trait anxiety remains unknown. Methods: Thirty-eight young healthy individuals with high anxiety levels and 34 healthy subjects with low anxiety levels who were matched by age, gender, and educational level were recruited. Diffusion tensor images were acquired to analyze white matter connectivity. A two-sample t-test was used for group comparison of weighted networks and graph properties. Results: Different connections were detected in fractional anisotropy- and fiber number-weighted networks. These connections were widely distributed in various regions, where relative significance was located in the inter-hemispheric frontal lobe, the frontal-limbic lobe in the right intra-hemisphere, and the frontal-temporal lobe in the ipsilateral hemisphere. However, no significant difference was found in fiber length-weighted network and in graph properties among the three networks. Conclusions: The structural connectivity of white matter may be a vulnerability marker. Hence, healthy individuals with high trait anxiety levels are susceptible to anxiety-related psychopathology. The findings may help elucidate the pathological mechanism of anxiety and establish interventions for populations susceptible to anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunlan Yang
- College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yining Zhang
- College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Min Lu
- College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Jiechuan Ren
- Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhimei Li
- Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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13
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Lee KS, Lee SH. White Matter-Based Structural Brain Network of Anxiety. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1191:61-70. [PMID: 32002922 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-32-9705-0_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive fear and anxiety and related behavioral disturbances. Because diffusion tensor imaging is sensitive to detect subtle pathology of the brain, it has been used to characterize differences in white matter microstructure for a broad spectrum of psychiatric disorders. The neurobiological underpinnings of a trait anxiety seem to be associated with the uncinate fasciculus, a major pathway between the amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex. Apparent WM micro-alterations in patients with panic disorder are present in diverse and widespread regions, although alterations vary in terms of clinical symptom severity and comorbidities. Social anxiety disorder is associated with structural dysconnectivity in a fronto-limbic network consistent with reduced fractional anisotropy values in uncinate fasciculus and inferior longitudinal fasciculus. The pathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive disorder may include abnormal findings in not only the fronto-striato-thalamic circuit but also the posterior and temporal regions of forceps major and cingulum bundle. Studies of white matter status in anxiety revealed overlapping patterns of front-cortical and fronto-limbic changes with uncinate fasciculus and cingulum alterations a frequent component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Soo Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Sang Hyuk Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.
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14
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Tromp DP, Fox AS, Oler JA, Alexander AL, Kalin NH. The Relationship Between the Uncinate Fasciculus and Anxious Temperament Is Evolutionarily Conserved and Sexually Dimorphic. Biol Psychiatry 2019; 86:890-898. [PMID: 31542153 PMCID: PMC6910082 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 07/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anxious temperament (AT) is an early-life heritable trait that predisposes individuals to develop anxiety and depressive disorders. Our previous work in preadolescent children suggests alterations in the uncinate fasciculus (UF), the white matter tract that connects prefrontal with limbic regions, in boys with anxiety disorders. Here, using a nonhuman primate model of AT, we tested whether this sexually dimorphic finding is evolutionarily conserved and examined the extent to which heritable and environmental influences contribute to UF microstructure. METHODS Diffusion tensor images were collected in 581 young rhesus monkeys (1.89 ± 0.77 years old; 43.9% female). Using tract-based analyses, we assessed the relationship among AT, UF microstructure (as measured with fractional anisotropy), and sex. Heritability of tract microstructure was determined using oligogenic linkage analysis of this large multigenerational pedigree. RESULTS We predicted and found a negative relation between AT and UF fractional anisotropy in male but not female monkeys (AT × sex; p = .032, 1-tailed). Additionally, heritability analyses revealed that variation in UF fractional anisotropy was largely due to nonheritable factors (h2 = 0.185, p = .077). CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate a cross-species, male-specific relation between UF microstructure and anxiety and provide a potential substrate for anxiety-related prefrontal-limbic dysregulation. The heritability analyses point to the importance of environmental influences on UF microstructure, which could be important in mediating the nonheritable components of pathological anxiety. These findings have the potential to guide new treatment strategies for childhood anxiety disorders and further support the use of nonhuman primates as a translational model to discover mechanisms underlying the development of anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Do P.M. Tromp
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA,Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA,HealthEmotion Research Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Andrew S. Fox
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA,California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan A. Oler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA,HealthEmotion Research Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Andrew L. Alexander
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA,Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ned H. Kalin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA,Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA,HealthEmotion Research Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
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15
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Auday ES, Pérez-Edgar KE. Limbic and prefrontal neural volume modulate social anxiety in children at temperamental risk. Depress Anxiety 2019; 36:690-700. [PMID: 31373755 PMCID: PMC6684311 DOI: 10.1002/da.22941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical levels of a social anxiety disorder (SAD) often appear during childhood and rise to a peak during late adolescence. The temperament trait behavioral inhibition (BI), evident early in childhood, has been linked to increased risk for SAD. Functional and structural variations in brain regions associated with the identification of, and response to, fear may support the BI-SAD relation. Whereas relevant functional studies are emerging, the few extant structural studies have focused on adult samples with mixed findings. METHODS A moderated-mediation model was used to examine the relations between BI, SAD symptoms, and brain-volume individual differences in a sample of children at risk for anxiety (ages 9-12; N = 130, 52 BI). RESULTS Our findings indicate that at higher levels of BI, children with smaller anterior insula volumes showed stronger correlations between BI and SAD. In addition, larger ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) volumes were associated with fewer SAD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS These findings support previous reports linking SAD levels with variations in volume and reactivity in both limbic (insula) and prefrontal (vlPFC) regions. These findings set the foundation for further examination of networks of neural structures that influence the transition from BI to SAD across development, helping further clarify mechanisms of risk and resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eran S. Auday
- The Pennsylvania State University,Geisinger Health System
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16
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Abnormal spontaneous brain activity in patients with generalized anxiety disorder revealed by resting-state functional MRI. Neuroreport 2019; 29:397-401. [PMID: 29406370 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000000982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the spontaneous hemodynamic fluctuations and the dysfunctional brain regions in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) using resting-state functional MRI. Previous studies have demonstrated some neural networks that are different in this patient group compared with healthy controls. However, there is still a need for precise anatomical localization of the aberrantly operating networks. We used resting-state functional MRI to measure the hemodynamic fluctuations in 31 GAD patients and 31 control participants matched for sex, age, and education. On the basis of the hemodynamic fluctuations, we calculated regional homogeneity (ReHo) for our comparisons as this measure reflects coherent fluctuations in adjacently located brain regions. The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale was used to assess symptom severity of the GAD patients. There were no significant differences with respect to age, sex, handedness, and education. However, compared with controls, GAD patients showed higher Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scores (16.90±1.94, P<0.05). We identified decreased ReHo measures in the right inferior frontal gyrus and the left caudate nucleus in the GAD group compared with the healthy controls. In addition, we found increased ReHo measures within the left cingulate gyrus. This study further complements the network characteristics in anxiety patients and presents new and more accurate anatomical positioning about GAD patients.
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17
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Hernandez F, Giordano C, Goubran M, Parivash S, Grant G, Zeineh M, Camarillo D. Lateral impacts correlate with falx cerebri displacement and corpus callosum trauma in sports-related concussions. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2019; 18:631-649. [PMID: 30859404 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-018-01106-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Corpus callosum trauma has long been implicated in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), yet the mechanism by which forces penetrate this structure is unknown. We investigated the hypothesis that coronal and horizontal rotations produce motion of the falx cerebri that damages the corpus callosum. We analyzed previously published head kinematics of 115 sports impacts (2 diagnosed mTBI) measured with instrumented mouthguards and used finite element (FE) simulations to correlate falx displacement with corpus callosum deformation. Peak coronal accelerations were larger in impacts with mTBI (8592 rad/s2 avg.) than those without (1412 rad/s2 avg.). From FE simulations, coronal acceleration was strongly correlated with deep lateral motion of the falx center (r = 0.85), while horizontal acceleration was correlated with deep lateral motion of the falx periphery (r > 0.78). Larger lateral displacement at the falx center and periphery was correlated with higher tract-oriented strains in the corpus callosum body (r = 0.91) and genu/splenium (r > 0.72), respectively. The relationship between the corpus callosum and falx was unique: removing the falx from the FE model halved peak strains in the corpus callosum from 35% to 17%. Consistent with model results, we found indications of corpus callosum trauma in diffusion tensor imaging of the mTBI athletes. For a measured alteration of consciousness, depressed fractional anisotropy and increased mean diffusivity indicated possible damage to the mid-posterior corpus callosum. Our results suggest that the corpus callosum may be sensitive to coronal and horizontal rotations because they drive lateral motion of a relatively stiff membrane, the falx, in the direction of commissural fibers below.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fidel Hernandez
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Chiara Giordano
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Maged Goubran
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Sherveen Parivash
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Gerald Grant
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.,Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Michael Zeineh
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - David Camarillo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA. .,Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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18
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Tromp DPM, Williams LE, Fox AS, Oler JA, Roseboom PH, Rogers GM, Benson BE, Alexander AL, Pine DS, Kalin NH. Altered Uncinate Fasciculus Microstructure in Childhood Anxiety Disorders in Boys But Not Girls. Am J Psychiatry 2019; 176:208-216. [PMID: 30654645 PMCID: PMC6661168 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.18040425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Anxiety disorders are common, can result in lifelong suffering, and frequently begin before adolescence. Evidence from adults suggests that altered prefrontal-limbic connectivity is a pathophysiological feature of anxiety disorders. More specifically, in adults with anxiety disorders, decreased fractional anisotropy (FA), a measure of white matter integrity, has been observed in the uncinate fasciculus, the major tract that connects limbic and prefrontal regions. Because of the early onset of anxiety disorders and the increased incidence in anxiety disorders in females during their reproductive years, it is important to understand whether the reduction in uncinate fasciculus FA exists in children with anxiety disorders and the extent to which this alteration is sex related. To address these issues, the authors assessed FA in the uncinate fasciculus in unmedicated boys and girls with anxiety disorders. METHODS FA measures were derived from diffusion tensor images that were acquired from 98 unmedicated children (ages 8-12); 52 met criteria for generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, or anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, and 46 were matched control subjects. RESULTS Tract-based results demonstrated that children with anxiety disorders have significant reductions in uncinate fasciculus FA. A significant sex-by-group interaction and post hoc testing revealed that this effect was evident only in boys. No other main effects or sex-by-group interactions were found for other white matter tracts. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide evidence of uncinate fasciculus white matter alterations in boys with anxiety disorders. The data demonstrate that anxiety disorder-related alterations in prefrontal-limbic structural connectivity are present early in life, are not related to psychotropic medication exposure, and are sex specific. Building on these findings, future research has the potential to provide insights into the genesis and sexual dimorphism of the pathophysiology that leads to anxiety disorders, as well as to identify sex-specific early-life treatment targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Do P M Tromp
- The Department of Psychiatry (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Rogers, Alexander, Kalin), the Neuroscience Training Program (Tromp, Kalin), the Department of Medical Physics (Alexander), and the HealthEmotions Research Institute (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Kalin), University of Wisconsin, Madison; the Department of Psychology and the California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis (Fox); and the Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience, NIMH, Bethesda, Md. (Benson, Pine)
| | - Lisa E Williams
- The Department of Psychiatry (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Rogers, Alexander, Kalin), the Neuroscience Training Program (Tromp, Kalin), the Department of Medical Physics (Alexander), and the HealthEmotions Research Institute (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Kalin), University of Wisconsin, Madison; the Department of Psychology and the California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis (Fox); and the Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience, NIMH, Bethesda, Md. (Benson, Pine)
| | - Andrew S Fox
- The Department of Psychiatry (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Rogers, Alexander, Kalin), the Neuroscience Training Program (Tromp, Kalin), the Department of Medical Physics (Alexander), and the HealthEmotions Research Institute (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Kalin), University of Wisconsin, Madison; the Department of Psychology and the California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis (Fox); and the Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience, NIMH, Bethesda, Md. (Benson, Pine)
| | - Jonathan A Oler
- The Department of Psychiatry (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Rogers, Alexander, Kalin), the Neuroscience Training Program (Tromp, Kalin), the Department of Medical Physics (Alexander), and the HealthEmotions Research Institute (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Kalin), University of Wisconsin, Madison; the Department of Psychology and the California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis (Fox); and the Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience, NIMH, Bethesda, Md. (Benson, Pine)
| | - Patrick H Roseboom
- The Department of Psychiatry (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Rogers, Alexander, Kalin), the Neuroscience Training Program (Tromp, Kalin), the Department of Medical Physics (Alexander), and the HealthEmotions Research Institute (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Kalin), University of Wisconsin, Madison; the Department of Psychology and the California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis (Fox); and the Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience, NIMH, Bethesda, Md. (Benson, Pine)
| | - Gregory M Rogers
- The Department of Psychiatry (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Rogers, Alexander, Kalin), the Neuroscience Training Program (Tromp, Kalin), the Department of Medical Physics (Alexander), and the HealthEmotions Research Institute (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Kalin), University of Wisconsin, Madison; the Department of Psychology and the California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis (Fox); and the Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience, NIMH, Bethesda, Md. (Benson, Pine)
| | - Brenda E Benson
- The Department of Psychiatry (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Rogers, Alexander, Kalin), the Neuroscience Training Program (Tromp, Kalin), the Department of Medical Physics (Alexander), and the HealthEmotions Research Institute (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Kalin), University of Wisconsin, Madison; the Department of Psychology and the California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis (Fox); and the Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience, NIMH, Bethesda, Md. (Benson, Pine)
| | - Andrew L Alexander
- The Department of Psychiatry (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Rogers, Alexander, Kalin), the Neuroscience Training Program (Tromp, Kalin), the Department of Medical Physics (Alexander), and the HealthEmotions Research Institute (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Kalin), University of Wisconsin, Madison; the Department of Psychology and the California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis (Fox); and the Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience, NIMH, Bethesda, Md. (Benson, Pine)
| | - Daniel S Pine
- The Department of Psychiatry (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Rogers, Alexander, Kalin), the Neuroscience Training Program (Tromp, Kalin), the Department of Medical Physics (Alexander), and the HealthEmotions Research Institute (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Kalin), University of Wisconsin, Madison; the Department of Psychology and the California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis (Fox); and the Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience, NIMH, Bethesda, Md. (Benson, Pine)
| | - Ned H Kalin
- The Department of Psychiatry (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Rogers, Alexander, Kalin), the Neuroscience Training Program (Tromp, Kalin), the Department of Medical Physics (Alexander), and the HealthEmotions Research Institute (Tromp, Williams, Oler, Roseboom, Kalin), University of Wisconsin, Madison; the Department of Psychology and the California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis (Fox); and the Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience, NIMH, Bethesda, Md. (Benson, Pine)
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19
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Lai CH. Fear Network Model in Panic Disorder: The Past and the Future. Psychiatry Investig 2019; 16:16-26. [PMID: 30176707 PMCID: PMC6354036 DOI: 10.30773/pi.2018.05.04.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The core concept for pathophysiology in panic disorder (PD) is the fear network model (FNM). The alterations in FNM might be linked with disturbances in the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which is a common phenomenon in PD. The traditional FNM included the frontal and limbic regions, which were dysregulated in the feedback mechanism for cognitive control of frontal lobe over the primitive response of limbic system. The exaggerated responses of limbic system are also associated with dysregulation in the neurotransmitter system. The neuroimaging studies also corresponded to FNM concept. However, more extended areas of FNM have been discovered in recent imaging studies, such as sensory regions of occipital, parietal cortex and temporal cortex and insula. The insula might integrate the filtered sensory information via thalamus from the visuospatial and other sensory modalities related to occipital, parietal and temporal lobes. In this review article, the traditional and advanced FNM would be discussed. I would also focus on the current evidences of insula, temporal, parietal and occipital lobes in the pathophysiology. In addition, the white matter and functional connectome studies would be reviewed to support the concept of advanced FNM. An emerging dysregulation model of fronto-limbic-insula and temporooccipito-parietal areas might be revealed according to the combined results of recent neuroimaging studies. The future delineation of advanced FNM model can be beneficial from more extensive and advanced studies focusing on the additional sensory regions of occipital, parietal and temporal cortex to confirm the role of advanced FNM in the pathophysiology of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Han Lai
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,PhD Psychiatry & Neuroscience Clinic, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Psychiatry, Yeezen General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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20
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Mohamed Ali O, Vandermeer MRJ, Sheikh HI, Joanisse MF, Hayden EP. Girls' internalizing symptoms and white matter tracts in Cortico-Limbic circuitry. Neuroimage Clin 2018; 21:101650. [PMID: 30611742 PMCID: PMC6412069 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.101650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 12/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Dysfunction in cortico-limbic circuitry is implicated in internalizing disorders (i.e., depressive and anxious disorders), but less is known about whether structural variations precede frank disorder and thus potentially mark risk. We therefore examined associations between white matter (WM) tract microstructure in cortico-limbic circuitry at age 7 and concurrent and longitudinal patterns of internalizing symptoms in 42 typically developing girls using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). Girls' internalizing symptoms were concurrently associated with reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) in segments of the cingulum bundle (CB) and the uncinate fasciculus (UF), bilaterally. Moreover, latent profile analysis showed that girls with increasing internalizing symptoms, based on assessments at ages 3, 6, 7, and 8, had reduced FA in these segments compared to girls with stably low symptoms. These results point to a putative neural mechanism underlying the course of childhood internalizing symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ola Mohamed Ali
- Department of Psychology, Brain and Mind Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada.
| | - Matthew R J Vandermeer
- Department of Psychology, Brain and Mind Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Haroon I Sheikh
- Molecular Genetics Unit, Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Marc F Joanisse
- Department of Psychology, Brain and Mind Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Elizabeth P Hayden
- Department of Psychology, Brain and Mind Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
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21
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Subramaniam P, Rogowska J, DiMuzio J, Lopez-Larson M, McGlade E, Yurgelun-Todd D. Orbitofrontal connectivity is associated with depression and anxiety in marijuana-using adolescents. J Affect Disord 2018; 239:234-241. [PMID: 30025312 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 06/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prevalence of marijuana (MJ) use among adolescents has been on the rise. MJ use has been reported to impact several brain regions, including frontal regions such as the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). The OFC is involved in emotion regulation and processing and has been associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Therefore, we hypothesized that adolescent MJ users would show disruptions in OFC connectivity compared with healthy adolescents (HC) which would be associated with symptoms of mood and anxiety. METHODS 43 MJ-using and 31 HC adolescents completed clinical measures including the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data was also acquired for all participants. RESULTS In MJ users, increased depressive symptoms were associated with increased connectivity between the left OFC and left parietal regions. In contrast, lower ratings of anxiety were associated with increased connectivity between right and left OFC and right occipital and temporal regions. These findings indicate significant differences in OFC connectivity in MJ-using adolescents, which correlated with mood/anxiety. LIMITATIONS Future studies with an increased number of female participants is required to address potential sex differences in connectivity patterns related to symptoms of depression and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the association between OFC connectivity, MJ use, and symptoms of depression and anxiety in adolescents. These findings provide further insight into understanding the neural correlates that modulate the relationship between comorbid MJ use and mood disorders and could potentially help us better develop preventive and treatment measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Punitha Subramaniam
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
| | - Jadwiga Rogowska
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Jennifer DiMuzio
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Erin McGlade
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Department of Veteran Affairs, Rocky Mountain MIRECC, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Deborah Yurgelun-Todd
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Department of Veteran Affairs, Rocky Mountain MIRECC, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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Alnæs D, Kaufmann T, Doan NT, Córdova-Palomera A, Wang Y, Bettella F, Moberget T, Andreassen OA, Westlye LT. Association of Heritable Cognitive Ability and Psychopathology With White Matter Properties in Children and Adolescents. JAMA Psychiatry 2018; 75:287-295. [PMID: 29365026 PMCID: PMC5885956 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.4277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Many mental disorders emerge during adolescence, which may reflect a cost of the potential for brain plasticity offered during this period. Brain dysconnectivity has been proposed as a common factor across diagnostic categories. OBJECTIVE To investigate the hypothesis that brain dysconnectivity is a transdiagnostic phenotype in adolescence with increased susceptibility and symptoms of psychiatric disease. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We investigated clinical symptoms as well as cognitive function in 6487 individuals aged 8 to 21 years from November 1, 2009, to November 30, 2011, in the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort and analyzed diffusion magnetic resonance imaging brain scans for 748 of the participants. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Independent component analysis was used to derive dimensional psychopathology scores, and genome-wide complex trait analysis was used to estimate its heritability. Multimodal fusion simultaneously modeled contributions of the diffusion magnetic resonance imaging metrics fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, radial diffusivity, L1 (the principal diffusion tensor imaging eigen value), mode of anisotropy, as well as dominant and secondary fiber orientations, and structural connectivity density, and their association with general psychopathology and cognition. RESULTS Machine learning with 10-fold cross-validation and permutation testing in 729 individuals (aged 8 to 22 years; mean [SD] age, 15.1 [3.3] years; 343 females [46%]) revealed significant association with general psychopathology levels (r = 0.24, P < .001) and cognition (r = 0.39, P < .001). A brain white matter pattern reflecting frontotemporal connectivity and crossing fibers in the uncinate fasciculus was the most associated feature for both traits. Univariate analysis across a range of clinical domains and cognitive test scores confirmed its transdiagnostic importance. Both the general psychopathology (16%; SE, 0.095; P = .05) and cognitive (18%; SE, 0.09; P = .01) factor were heritable and showed a negative genetic correlation. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE Dimensional and heritable general cognitive and psychopathology factors are associated with specific patterns of white matter properties, suggesting that dysconnectivity is a transdiagnostic brain-based phenotype in individuals with increased susceptibility and symptoms of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dag Alnæs
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tobias Kaufmann
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nhat Trung Doan
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Aldo Córdova-Palomera
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Yunpeng Wang
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Francesco Bettella
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Torgeir Moberget
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole A. Andreassen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars T. Westlye
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway,Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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23
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Amygdala-orbitofrontal structural and functional connectivity in females with anxiety disorders, with and without a history of conduct disorder. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1101. [PMID: 29348532 PMCID: PMC5773614 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19569-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Conduct disorder (CD) and anxiety disorders (ADs) are often comorbid and both are characterized by hyper-sensitivity to threat, and reduced structural and functional connectivity between the amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Previous studies of CD have not taken account of ADs nor directly compared connectivity in the two disorders. We examined three groups of young women: 23 presenting CD and lifetime AD; 30 presenting lifetime AD and not CD; and 17 with neither disorder (ND). Participants completed clinical assessments and diffusion-weighted and resting-state functional MRI scans. The uncinate fasciculus was reconstructed using tractography and manual dissection, and structural measures extracted. Correlations of resting-state activity between amygdala and OFC seeds were computed. The CD + AD and AD groups showed similarly reduced structural integrity of the left uncinate compared to ND, even after adjusting for IQ, psychiatric comorbidity, and childhood maltreatment. Uncinate integrity was associated with harm avoidance traits among AD-only women, and with the interaction of poor anger control and anxiety symptoms among CD + AD women. Groups did not differ in functional connectivity. Reduced uncinate integrity observed in CD + AD and AD-only women may reflect deficient emotion regulation in response to threat, common to both disorders, while other neural mechanisms determine the behavioral response.
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24
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Coad BM, Postans M, Hodgetts CJ, Muhlert N, Graham KS, Lawrence AD. Structural connections support emotional connections: Uncinate Fasciculus microstructure is related to the ability to decode facial emotion expressions. Neuropsychologia 2017; 145:106562. [PMID: 29122609 PMCID: PMC7534036 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2017.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 11/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The Uncinate Fasciculus (UF) is an association fibre tract connecting regions in the frontal and anterior temporal lobes. UF disruption is seen in several disorders associated with impaired social behaviour, but its functional role is unclear. Here we set out to test the hypothesis that the UF is important for facial expression processing, an ability fundamental to adaptive social behaviour. In two separate experiments in healthy adults, we used high-angular resolution diffusion-weighted imaging (HARDI) and constrained spherical deconvolution (CSD) tractography to virtually dissect the UF, plus a control tract (the corticospinal tract (CST)), and quantify, via fractional anisotropy (FA), individual differences in tract microstructure. In Experiment 1, participants completed the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task (RMET), a well-validated assay of facial expression decoding. In Experiment 2, a different set of participants completed the RMET, plus an odd-emotion-out task of facial emotion discrimination. In both experiments, participants also completed a control odd-identity-out facial identity discrimination task. In Experiment 1, FA of the right-, but not the left-hemisphere, UF was significantly correlated with performance on the RMET task, specifically for emotional, but not neutral expressions. UF FA was not significantly correlated with facial identity discrimination performance. In Experiment 2, FA of the right-, but not left-hemisphere, UF was again significantly correlated with performance on emotional items from the RMET, together with performance on the facial emotion discrimination task. Again, no significant association was found between UF FA and facial identity discrimination performance. Our findings highlight the contribution of right-hemisphere UF microstructure to inter-individual variability in the ability to decode facial emotion expressions, and may explain why disruption of this pathway affects social behaviour. We studied white matter microstructure correlates of facial emotion decoding skills. Focused on the role of a key limbic tract, the Uncinate Fasciculus (UF). Right UF microstructure linked to facial expression decoding skills. UF microstructure not related to facial identity discrimination skills. Right UF has a distinct role in the processing of facial expressions of emotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany M Coad
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, UK
| | - Mark Postans
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, UK
| | - Carl J Hodgetts
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, UK
| | - Nils Muhlert
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, UK; Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Kim S Graham
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, UK
| | - Andrew D Lawrence
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, UK.
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25
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Construction of Brain Structural Connectome Using PROPELLER Echo-Planar Diffusion Tensor Imaging with Probabilistic Tractography: Comparison with Conventional Imaging. J Med Biol Eng 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s40846-017-0335-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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26
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Structural connectomics of anxious arousal in early adolescence: Translating clinical and ethological findings. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2017; 16:604-609. [PMID: 28971010 PMCID: PMC5619942 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2017.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2017] [Revised: 09/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Etiological explanations of clinical anxiety can be advanced through understanding the neural mechanisms associated with anxiety in youth prior to the emergence of psychopathology. In this vein, the present study sought to investigate how trait anxiety is related to features of the structural connectome in early adolescence. 40 adolescents (21 female, mean age = 13.49 years) underwent a diffusion-weighted imaging scan. We hypothesized that the strength of several a priori defined structural connections would vary with anxious arousal based on previous work in human clinical neuroscience and adult rodent optogenetics. First, connection strength of caudate to rostral middle frontal gyrus was predicted to be anticorrelated with anxious arousal, predicated on extant work in clinically-diagnosed adolescents. Second, connection strength of amygdala to rostral anterior cingulate and to medial orbital frontal cortex would be positively and negatively correlated with anxious arousal, respectively, predicated on rodent optogenetics showing the former pathway is anxiogenic and the latter is anxiolytic. We also predicted that levels of anxiety would not vary with measures of global network topology, based on reported null findings. Results support that anxiety in early adolescence is associated with (1) the clinical biomarker connecting caudate to frontal cortex, and (2) the anxiogenic pathway connecting amygdala to rostral anterior cingulate, both in left but not right hemisphere. Findings support that in early adolescence, anxious arousal may be related to mechanisms that increase anxiogenesis, and not in a deficit in regulatory mechanisms that support anxiolysis.
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27
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Anxiety-related experience-dependent white matter structural differences in adolescence: A monozygotic twin difference approach. Sci Rep 2017; 7:8749. [PMID: 28821748 PMCID: PMC5562810 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08107-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Anxiety is linked to deficits in structural and functional connectivity between limbic structures and pre-frontal cortices. We employed a monozygotic (MZ) twin difference design to examine the relationship between structural characteristics of the uncinate fasciculus (UF) measured by Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and anxiety symptoms in a sample of N = 100 monozygotic (genetically identical), adolescent twins. The MZ difference design allowed us focus on environmental factors that vary within twin pairs while controlling for genetic and environmental factors shared by twin pairs. Twins aged 13-18 years reported on symptoms of generalized anxiety and social phobia prior to participating in a neuroimaging visit. Regions of interest from the JHU ICBM atlas, including uncinate fasciculus and sagittal stratum as a control tract, were registered to the study template. We incorporated multiple diffusion tensor measures to characterize the white matter differences. Within twin pairs, the more anxious twin exhibited decreased fractional anisotropy (t = -2.22, p = 0.032) and axial diffusivity (t = -2.38, p = 0.022) in the left UF compared to the less anxious twin, controlling for age and gender. This study demonstrated the feasibility and advantages of adopting the MZ twin design for DTI measures in neuroimaging research.
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28
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Pattern of structural brain changes in social anxiety disorder after cognitive behavioral group therapy: a longitudinal multimodal MRI study. Mol Psychiatry 2017; 22:1164-1171. [PMID: 27922605 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2016.217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2015] [Revised: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterized by fears of social and performance situations. Cognitive behavioral group therapy (CBGT) has in general positive effects on symptoms, distress and avoidance in SAD. Prior studies found increased cortical volumes and decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in SAD compared with healthy controls (HCs). Thirty-three participants diagnosed with SAD attended in a 10-week CBGT and were scanned before and after therapy. We applied three neuroimaging methods-surface-based morphometry, diffusion tensor imaging and network-based statistics-each with specific longitudinal processing protocols, to investigate CBGT-induced structural brain alterations of the gray and white matter (WM). Surface-based morphometry revealed a significant cortical volume reduction (pre- to post-treatment) in the left inferior parietal cortex, as well as a positive partial correlation between treatment success (indexed by reductions in Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale) and reductions in cortical volume in bilateral dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. Diffusion tensor imaging analysis revealed a significant increase in FA in bilateral uncinate fasciculus and right inferior longitudinal fasciculus. Network-based statistics revealed a significant increase of structural connectivity in a frontolimbic network. No partial correlations with treatment success have been found in WM analyses. For, we believe, the first time, we present a distinctive pattern of longitudinal structural brain changes after CBGT measured with three established magnetic resonance imaging analyzing techniques. Our findings are in line with previous cross-sectional, unimodal SAD studies and extent them by highlighting anatomical brain alterations that point toward the level of HCs in parallel with a reduction in SAD symptomatology.
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29
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Tükel R, Ulasoglu Yildiz C, Ertekin E, Kurt E, Koyuncu A, Aydın K. Evidence for alterations of the right inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculi in patients with social anxiety disorder. Brain Res 2017; 1662:16-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2017.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2016] [Revised: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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30
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Minkova L, Sladky R, Kranz GS, Woletz M, Geissberger N, Kraus C, Lanzenberger R, Windischberger C. Task-dependent modulation of amygdala connectivity in social anxiety disorder. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2017; 262:39-46. [PMID: 28226306 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2016.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Revised: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Increased amygdala activation is consistently found in patients suffering from social anxiety disorder (SAD), a psychiatric condition characterized by an intense fear of social situations and scrutiny. Disruptions in the amygdalar-frontal network in SAD may explain the inability of frontal regions to appropriately down-regulate amygdalar hyper-activation. In this study, we measured 15 SAD patients and 15 healthy controls during an affective counting Stroop task with emotional faces to assess the interaction of affective stimuli with a cognitive task in SAD, as well as to investigate the causal interactions between the amygdala and the medial orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) using dynamic causal modeling (DCM). Here we show for the first time that differences in OFC-amygdala effective connectivity between SAD patients and healthy controls are influenced by cognitive load during task processing. In SAD patients relative to controls dysfunctional amygdala regulation was observed during passive viewing of harsh faces This could be linked to ongoing self-initiated cognitive processes (such as rumination and anticipation of negative events) that hinder successful amygdala regulation. However, between-group differences diminished during cognitive processing, suggesting that attentional load interfered with emotional processing in both patients and controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lora Minkova
- MR Center of Excellence, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Austria; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany; Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ronald Sladky
- MR Center of Excellence, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg S Kranz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Woletz
- MR Center of Excellence, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicole Geissberger
- MR Center of Excellence, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Kraus
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Windischberger
- MR Center of Excellence, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
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31
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Delli Pizzi S, Chiacchiaretta P, Mantini D, Bubbico G, Ferretti A, Edden RA, Di Giulio C, Onofrj M, Bonanni L. Functional and neurochemical interactions within the amygdala-medial prefrontal cortex circuit and their relevance to emotional processing. Brain Struct Funct 2017; 222:1267-1279. [PMID: 27566606 PMCID: PMC5549263 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-016-1276-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The amygdala-medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) circuit plays a key role in emotional processing. GABA-ergic inhibition within the mPFC has been suggested to play a role in the shaping of amygdala activity. However, the functional and neurochemical interactions within the amygdala-mPFC circuits and their relevance to emotional processing remain unclear. To investigate this circuit, we obtained resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and proton MR spectroscopy in 21 healthy subjects to assess the potential relationship between GABA levels within mPFC and the amygdala-mPFC functional connectivity. Trait anxiety was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y2). Partial correlations were used to measure the relationships among the functional connectivity outcomes, mPFC GABA levels and STAI-Y2 scores. Age, educational level and amount of the gray and white matters within 1H-MRS volume of interest were included as nuisance variables. The rs-fMRI signals of the amygdala and the vmPFC were significantly anti-correlated. This negative functional coupling between the two regions was inversely correlated with the GABA+/tCr level within the mPFC and the STAI-Y2 scores. We suggest a close relationship between mPFC GABA levels and functional interactions within the amygdala-vmPFC circuit, providing new insights in the physiology of emotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Delli Pizzi
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, ''G. d'Annunzio'' University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB), ''G. d'Annunzio'' University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- Aging Research Centre, ''G. d'Annunzio'' University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Piero Chiacchiaretta
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, ''G. d'Annunzio'' University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB), ''G. d'Annunzio'' University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Dante Mantini
- Research Centre for Motor Control and Neuroplasticity, KU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Neural Control of Movement Lab, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Giovanna Bubbico
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, ''G. d'Annunzio'' University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB), ''G. d'Annunzio'' University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Antonio Ferretti
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, ''G. d'Annunzio'' University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB), ''G. d'Annunzio'' University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Richard A Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Center for Functional MRI, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Camillo Di Giulio
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, ''G. d'Annunzio'' University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Marco Onofrj
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, ''G. d'Annunzio'' University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- Aging Research Centre, ''G. d'Annunzio'' University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Laura Bonanni
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, ''G. d'Annunzio'' University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
- Aging Research Centre, ''G. d'Annunzio'' University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
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32
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Bas-Hoogendam JM, Blackford JU, Brühl AB, Blair KS, van der Wee NJ, Westenberg PM. Neurobiological candidate endophenotypes of social anxiety disorder. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 71:362-378. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.08.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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33
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Geiger MJ, Domschke K, Ipser J, Hattingh C, Baldwin DS, Lochner C, Stein DJ. Altered executive control network resting-state connectivity in social anxiety disorder. World J Biol Psychiatry 2016; 17:47-57. [PMID: 26452782 DOI: 10.3109/15622975.2015.1083613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Research into the neural basis of social anxiety disorder (SAD) suggests alterations in prefrontal networks, which may in turn disrupt regulation of the limbic system. Better understanding of the disturbed interface between these networks may improve current pathogenic models of this disorder. METHODS Applying group independent component analysis (ICA) to recordings of fMRI resting-state, connectivity in the executive control network was studied in 18 patients with SAD and 15 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. RESULTS Results revealed a dissociation within the left executive control network, with SAD patients showing decreased connectivity of the orbitofrontal gyrus and increased connectivity of the middle frontal gyrus compared to healthy controls. In a subsequent seed-based functional connectivity analysis, patients with SAD displayed increased connectivity between the left orbitofrontal gyrus and the left amygdala. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that hypo-connectivity in the executive control network and hyper-connectivity between the orbitofrontal cortex and the amygdala may reflect a disturbance in the balance between top-down and bottom-up control processes, potentially contributing to the development of SAD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katharina Domschke
- a Department of Psychiatry , University of Wuerzburg , Wuerzburg , Germany
| | - Jonathan Ipser
- b Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa
| | - Coenie Hattingh
- b Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa
| | - David S Baldwin
- b Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa.,c Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton , Southampton , UK
| | - Christine Lochner
- d MRC Unit on Anxiety and Stress Disorders, Department of Psychiatry , University of Stellenbosch , Stellenbosch , South Africa
| | - Dan J Stein
- b Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa.,e Groote Schuur Hospital, MRC Unit on Anxiety and Stress Disorders, University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa
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34
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Wong QJJ, Rapee RM. The aetiology and maintenance of social anxiety disorder: A synthesis of complimentary theoretical models and formulation of a new integrated model. J Affect Disord 2016; 203:84-100. [PMID: 27280967 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2016.05.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Revised: 04/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Within maintenance models of social anxiety disorder (SAD), a number of cognitive and behavioural factors that drive the persistence of SAD have been proposed. However, these maintenance models do not address how SAD develops, or the origins of the proposed maintaining factors. There are also models of the development of SAD that have been proposed independently from maintenance models. These models highlight multiple factors that contribute risk to the onset of SAD, but do not address how these aetiological factors may lead to the development of the maintaining factors associated with SAD. METHODS A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify aetiological and maintenance models of SAD. We then united key factors identified in these models and formulated an integrated aetiological and maintenance (IAM) model of SAD. A systematic review of the literature was then conducted on the components of the IAM model. RESULTS A number of aetiological and maintaining factors were identified in models of SAD. These factors could be drawn together into the IAM model. On balance, there is empirical evidence for the association of each of the factors in the IAM model with social anxiety or SAD, providing preliminary support for the model. LIMITATIONS There are relationships between components of the IAM model that require empirical attention. Future research will need to continue to test the IAM model. CONCLUSIONS The IAM model provides a framework for future investigations into the development and persistence of SAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quincy J J Wong
- Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Ronald M Rapee
- Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
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35
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Whitfield-Gabrieli S, Ghosh SS, Nieto-Castanon A, Saygin Z, Doehrmann O, Chai XJ, Reynolds GO, Hofmann SG, Pollack MH, Gabrieli JDE. Brain connectomics predict response to treatment in social anxiety disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2016; 21:680-5. [PMID: 26260493 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2015.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2015] [Revised: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 06/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
We asked whether brain connectomics can predict response to treatment for a neuropsychiatric disorder better than conventional clinical measures. Pre-treatment resting-state brain functional connectivity and diffusion-weighted structural connectivity were measured in 38 patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD) to predict subsequent treatment response to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). We used a priori bilateral anatomical amygdala seed-driven resting connectivity and probabilistic tractography of the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus together with a data-driven multivoxel pattern analysis of whole-brain resting-state connectivity before treatment to predict improvement in social anxiety after CBT. Each connectomic measure improved the prediction of individuals' treatment outcomes significantly better than a clinical measure of initial severity, and combining the multimodal connectomics yielded a fivefold improvement in predicting treatment response. Generalization of the findings was supported by leave-one-out cross-validation. After dividing patients into better or worse responders, logistic regression of connectomic predictors and initial severity combined with leave-one-out cross-validation yielded a categorical prediction of clinical improvement with 81% accuracy, 84% sensitivity and 78% specificity. Connectomics of the human brain, measured by widely available imaging methods, may provide brain-based biomarkers (neuromarkers) supporting precision medicine that better guide patients with neuropsychiatric diseases to optimal available treatments, and thus translate basic neuroimaging into medical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Whitfield-Gabrieli
- Poitras Center for Affective Disorders Research, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - S S Ghosh
- Poitras Center for Affective Disorders Research, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Otology and Laryngoloy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - A Nieto-Castanon
- Poitras Center for Affective Disorders Research, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Z Saygin
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - O Doehrmann
- Poitras Center for Affective Disorders Research, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - X J Chai
- Poitras Center for Affective Disorders Research, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - G O Reynolds
- Poitras Center for Affective Disorders Research, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - S G Hofmann
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - M H Pollack
- Department of Psychiatry, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - J D E Gabrieli
- Poitras Center for Affective Disorders Research, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Abstract
The aim of the present study is to explore obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)-related abnormalities in white matter connectivity in OCD for a core region associated with inhibitory control [i.e. inferior frontal gyrus (IFG)]. Fifteen patients with OCD (11 men) and 15 healthy controls (nine men) underwent diffusion tensor imaging scanning to study four diffusivity indexes of white matter integrity [fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity and radial diffusivity (RD)]. The results showed that persons with OCD manifested significantly lower fractional anisotropy levels in the bilateral IFG as well as its parcellations in the pars opercularis, pars triangularis, and pars orbitalis. Significantly higher levels of MD, RD were evident for the OCD group in the IFG as a whole as well as in the bilateral subregions of the pars triangularis and pars opercularis (for MD and RD), the right side of the pars orbitalis (for RD), and the left side of the pars triangularis and right side pars opercularis (for axial diffusivity). Overall, the results suggest significant alterations in structural connectivity, probably associated with myelination and axonal abnormalities in the IFG of OCD patients.
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Conduct disorder in females is associated with reduced corpus callosum structural integrity independent of comorbid disorders and exposure to maltreatment. Transl Psychiatry 2016; 6:e714. [PMID: 26784968 PMCID: PMC5068887 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2015.216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2015] [Revised: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The behavioral phenotype and genotype of conduct disorder (CD) differ in males and females. Abnormalities of white matter integrity have been reported among males with CD and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Little is known about white matter integrity in females with CD. The present study aimed to determine whether abnormalities of white matter are present among young women who presented CD before the age of 15, and whether abnormalities are independent of the multiple comorbid disorders and experiences of maltreatment characterizing females with CD that may each in themselves be associated with alterations of the white matter. Three groups of women, aged on average 24 years, were scanned using diffusion tensor imaging and compared: 28 with prior CD, three of whom presented ASPD; a clinical comparison (CC) group of 15 women with no history of CD but with similar proportions who presented alcohol dependence, drug dependence, anxiety disorders, depression disorders and physical and sexual abuse as the CD group; and 24 healthy women. Whole-brain, tract-based spatial statistics were computed to investigate differences in fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity and radial diffusivity. Compared with healthy women, women with prior CD showed widespread reductions in axial diffusivity primarily in frontotemporal regions. After statistically adjusting for comorbid disorders and maltreatment, group differences in the corpus callosum body and genu (including forceps minor) remained significant. Compared with the CC group, women with CD showed reduced fractional anisotropy in the body and genu of the corpus callosum. No differences were detected between the CD and healthy women in the uncinate fasciculus.
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Emotion regulation and trait anxiety are predicted by the microstructure of fibers between amygdala and prefrontal cortex. J Neurosci 2015; 35:6020-7. [PMID: 25878275 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3659-14.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffusion tensor imaging revealed that trait anxiety predicts the microstructural properties of a prespecified fiber tract between the amygdala and the perigenual anterior cingulate cortex. Besides this particular pathway, it is likely that other pathways are also affected. We investigated white matter differences in persons featuring an anxious or a nonanxious personality, taking into account all potential pathway connections between amygdala and anxiety-related regions of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Diffusion-weighted images, measures of trait anxiety and of reappraisal use (an effective emotion-regulation style), were collected in 48 females. With probabilistic tractography, pathways between the amygdala and the dorsolateral PFC, dorsomedial PFC, ventromedial PFC, and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) were delineated. The resulting network showed a direct ventral connection between amygdala and PFC and a second limbic connection following the fornix and the anterior limb of the internal capsule. Reappraisal use predicted the microstructure of pathways to all calculated PFC regions in the left hemisphere, indicating stronger pathways for persons with high reappraisal use. Trait anxiety predicted the microstructure in pathways to the ventromedial PFC and OFC, indexing weaker connections in trait-anxious persons. These effects appeared in the right hemisphere, supporting lateralization and top-down inhibition theories of emotion processing. Whereas a specific microstructure is associated with an anxious personality, a different structure subserves emotion regulation. Both are part of a broad fiber tract network between amygdala and PFC.
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Alm KH, Rolheiser T, Mohamed FB, Olson IR. Fronto-temporal white matter connectivity predicts reversal learning errors. Front Hum Neurosci 2015; 9:343. [PMID: 26150776 PMCID: PMC4471733 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2015.00343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Each day, we make hundreds of decisions. In some instances, these decisions are guided by our innate needs; in other instances they are guided by memory. Probabilistic reversal learning tasks exemplify the close relationship between decision making and memory, as subjects are exposed to repeated pairings of a stimulus choice with a reward or punishment outcome. After stimulus-outcome associations have been learned, the associated reward contingencies are reversed, and participants are not immediately aware of this reversal. Individual differences in the tendency to choose the previously rewarded stimulus reveal differences in the tendency to make poorly considered, inflexible choices. Lesion studies have strongly linked reversal learning performance to the functioning of the orbitofrontal cortex, the hippocampus, and in some instances, the amygdala. Here, we asked whether individual differences in the microstructure of the uncinate fasciculus, a white matter tract that connects anterior and medial temporal lobe regions to the orbitofrontal cortex, predict reversal learning performance. Diffusion tensor imaging and behavioral paradigms were used to examine this relationship in 33 healthy young adults. The results of tractography revealed a significant negative relationship between reversal learning performance and uncinate axial diffusivity, but no such relationship was demonstrated in a control tract, the inferior longitudinal fasciculus. Our findings suggest that the uncinate might serve to integrate associations stored in the anterior and medial temporal lobes with expectations about expected value based on feedback history, computed in the orbitofrontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylie H Alm
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Tyler Rolheiser
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Feroze B Mohamed
- Department of Radiology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Ingrid R Olson
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA USA
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40
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Richter A, Woernle CM, Krayenbühl N, Kollias S, Bellut D. Affective Symptoms and White Matter Changes in Brain Tumor Patients. World Neurosurg 2015; 84:927-32. [PMID: 26026630 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2015.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Revised: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 05/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Affective symptoms are frequent in patients with brain tumors. The origin of such symptoms is unknown; either focal brain injury or reactive emotional distress may be responsible. This cross-sectional pilot study linked depressive symptoms and anxiety to white matter integrity. The objective was to test the hypothesis of a relationship between tissue damage and brain function in patients with brain tumors and to provide a basis for further studies in this field. METHODS Diffusion tensor imaging was performed in 39 patients with newly diagnosed supratentorial primary brain tumor. Patients completed the Beck Depression Inventory, and examiners rated them on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). State and trait anxiety were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Correlations between fractional anisotropy (FA) and psychological measures were assessed on the basis of regions of interest; the defined regions of interest corresponded to clearly specified white matter tracts. RESULTS Statistical analysis revealed correlations between FA in the left internal capsule and scores on the HDRS, Beck Depression Inventory, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (P < 0.05). HDRS scores were also correlated with FA in the right medial uncinate fasciculus, and state anxiety scores were significantly correlated with FA in the left lateral and medial uncinate fasciculus (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that neurobiologic mechanisms related to the integrity of tissue in specific white matter tracts may influence affective symptoms in patients with brain tumors, and these mechanisms can be investigated with diffusion tensor imaging. However, prospective observational studies are needed to investigate further the links between brain structures and the severity of affective symptoms in this patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre Richter
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Cristoph M Woernle
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Niklaus Krayenbühl
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Spyridon Kollias
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - David Bellut
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
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Klucken T, Schweckendiek J, Blecker C, Walter B, Kuepper Y, Hennig J, Stark R. The association between the 5-HTTLPR and neural correlates of fear conditioning and connectivity. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2015; 10:700-7. [PMID: 25140050 PMCID: PMC4420749 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsu108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2014] [Revised: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 08/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Strong evidence links the 5-HTTLPR genotype to the modulation of amygdala reactivity during fear conditioning, which is considered to convey the increased vulnerability for anxiety disorders in s-allele carriers. In addition to amygdala reactivity, the 5-HTTLPR has been shown to be related to alterations in structural and effective connectivity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 5-HTTLPR genotype on amygdala reactivity and effective connectivity during fear conditioning, as well as structural connectivity [as measured by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)]. To integrate different classification strategies, we used the bi-allelic (s-allele vs l/l-allele group) as well as the tri-allelic (low-functioning vs high-functioning) classification approach. S-allele carriers showed exaggerated amygdala reactivity and elevated amygdala-insula coupling during fear conditioning (CS + > CS-) compared with the l/l-allele group. In addition, DTI analysis showed increased fractional anisotropy values in s-allele carriers within the uncinate fasciculus. Using the tri-allelic classification approach, increased amygdala reactivity and amygdala insula coupling were observed in the low-functioning compared with the high-functioning group. No significant differences between the two groups were found in structural connectivity. The present results add to the current debate on the influence of the 5-HTTLPR on brain functioning. These differences between s-allele and l/l-allele carriers may contribute to altered vulnerability for psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Klucken
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, and Department of Personality Psychology and Individual Differences, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Jan Schweckendiek
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, and Department of Personality Psychology and Individual Differences, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Carlo Blecker
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, and Department of Personality Psychology and Individual Differences, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Bertram Walter
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, and Department of Personality Psychology and Individual Differences, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Yvonne Kuepper
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, and Department of Personality Psychology and Individual Differences, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Juergen Hennig
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, and Department of Personality Psychology and Individual Differences, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Rudolf Stark
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, and Department of Personality Psychology and Individual Differences, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, and Department of Personality Psychology and Individual Differences, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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42
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Manning J, Reynolds G, Saygin ZM, Hofmann SG, Pollack M, Gabrieli JDE, Whitfield-Gabrieli S. Altered resting-state functional connectivity of the frontal-striatal reward system in social anxiety disorder. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0125286. [PMID: 25928647 PMCID: PMC4416052 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2014] [Accepted: 03/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated differences in the intrinsic functional brain organization (functional connectivity) of the human reward system between healthy control participants and patients with social anxiety disorder. Functional connectivity was measured in the resting-state via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). 53 patients with social anxiety disorder and 33 healthy control participants underwent a 6-minute resting-state fMRI scan. Functional connectivity of the reward system was analyzed by calculating whole-brain temporal correlations with a bilateral nucleus accumbens seed and a ventromedial prefrontal cortex seed. Patients with social anxiety disorder, relative to the control group, had (1) decreased functional connectivity between the nucleus accumbens seed and other regions associated with reward, including ventromedial prefrontal cortex; (2) decreased functional connectivity between the ventromedial prefrontal cortex seed and lateral prefrontal regions, including the anterior and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices; and (3) increased functional connectivity between both the nucleus accumbens seed and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex seed with more posterior brain regions, including anterior cingulate cortex. Social anxiety disorder appears to be associated with widespread differences in the functional connectivity of the reward system, including markedly decreased functional connectivity between reward regions and between reward regions and lateral prefrontal cortices, and markedly increased functional connectivity between reward regions and posterior brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Manning
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Gretchen Reynolds
- Poitras Center for Affective Disorders Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Zeynep M. Saygin
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Stefan G. Hofmann
- Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Mark Pollack
- Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - John D. E. Gabrieli
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Poitras Center for Affective Disorders Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Poitras Center for Affective Disorders Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
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43
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Sladky R, Höflich A, Küblböck M, Kraus C, Baldinger P, Moser E, Lanzenberger R, Windischberger C. Disrupted effective connectivity between the amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex in social anxiety disorder during emotion discrimination revealed by dynamic causal modeling for FMRI. Cereb Cortex 2015; 25:895-903. [PMID: 24108802 PMCID: PMC4379995 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bht279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterized by over-reactivity of fear-related circuits in social or performance situations and associated with marked social impairment. We used dynamic causal modeling (DCM), a method to evaluate effective connectivity, to test our hypothesis that SAD patients would exhibit dysfunctions in the amygdala-prefrontal emotion regulation network. Thirteen unmedicated SAD patients and 13 matched healthy controls performed a series of facial emotion and object discrimination tasks while undergoing fMRI. The emotion-processing network was identified by a task-related contrast and motivated the selection of the right amygdala, OFC, and DLPFC for DCM analysis. Bayesian model averaging for DCM revealed abnormal connectivity between the OFC and the amygdala in SAD patients. In healthy controls, this network represents a negative feedback loop. In patients, however, positive connectivity from OFC to amygdala was observed, indicating an excitatory connection. As we did not observe a group difference of the modulatory influence of the FACE condition on the OFC to amygdala connection, we assume a context-independent reduction of prefrontal control over amygdalar activation in SAD patients. Using DCM, it was possible to highlight not only the neuronal dysfunction of isolated brain regions, but also the dysbalance of a distributed functional network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Sladky
- MR Centre of Excellence, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Centre for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering
| | - Anna Höflich
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Küblböck
- MR Centre of Excellence, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Centre for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering
| | - Christoph Kraus
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Pia Baldinger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ewald Moser
- MR Centre of Excellence, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Centre for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Windischberger
- MR Centre of Excellence, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Centre for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering
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Pereira VH, Marques P, Magalhães R, Português J, Calvo L, Cerqueira JJ, Sousa N. Central autonomic nervous system response to autonomic challenges is altered in patients with a previous episode of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL-ACUTE CARDIOVASCULAR CARE 2015; 5:152-63. [DOI: 10.1177/2048872615568968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 01/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vitor H Pereira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
- Cardiology Department, Alto Ave Hospital Centre, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Paulo Marques
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Magalhães
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - João Português
- Cardiology Department, Alto Ave Hospital Centre, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Lucy Calvo
- Cardiology Department, Alto Ave Hospital Centre, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - João J Cerqueira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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Duval ER, Javanbakht A, Liberzon I. Neural circuits in anxiety and stress disorders: a focused review. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2015; 11:115-26. [PMID: 25670901 PMCID: PMC4315464 DOI: 10.2147/tcrm.s48528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety and stress disorders are among the most prevalent neuropsychiatric disorders. In recent years, multiple studies have examined brain regions and networks involved in anxiety symptomatology in an effort to better understand the mechanisms involved and to develop more effective treatments. However, much remains unknown regarding the specific abnormalities and interactions between networks of regions underlying anxiety disorder presentations. We examined recent neuroimaging literature that aims to identify neural mechanisms underlying anxiety, searching for patterns of neural dysfunction that might be specific to different anxiety disorder categories. Across different anxiety and stress disorders, patterns of hyperactivation in emotion-generating regions and hypoactivation in prefrontal/regulatory regions are common in the literature. Interestingly, evidence of differential patterns is also emerging, such that within a spectrum of disorders ranging from more fear-based to more anxiety-based, greater involvement of emotion-generating regions is reported in panic disorder and specific phobia, and greater involvement of prefrontal regions is reported in generalized anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. We summarize the pertinent literature and suggest areas for continued investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth R Duval
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Arash Javanbakht
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Israel Liberzon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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46
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Laeger I, Dobel C, Radenz B, Kugel H, Keuper K, Eden A, Arolt V, Zwitserlood P, Dannlowski U, Zwanzger P. Of 'disgrace' and 'pain'--corticolimbic interaction patterns for disorder-relevant and emotional words in social phobia. PLoS One 2014; 9:e109949. [PMID: 25396729 PMCID: PMC4232246 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2014] [Accepted: 09/13/2014] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Limbic hyperactivation and an impaired functional interplay between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex are discussed to go along with, or even cause, pathological anxiety. Within the multi-faceted group of anxiety disorders, the highly prevalent social phobia (SP) is characterized by excessive fear of being negatively evaluated. Although there is widespread evidence for amygdala hypersensitivity to emotional faces in SP, verbal material has rarely been used in imaging studies, in particular with an eye on disorder-specificity. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a block design consisting of (1) overall negative, (2) social-phobia related, (3) positive, and (4) neutral words, we studied 25 female patients with social phobia and 25 healthy female control subjects (HC). Results demonstrated amygdala hyperactivation to disorder-relevant but not to generally negative words in SP patients, with a positive correlation to symptom severity. A functional connectivity analysis revealed a weaker coupling between the amygdala and the left middle frontal gyrus in patients. Symptom severity was negatively related to connectivity strength between the amygdala and the ventromedial prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortex (Brodmann Area 10 and 11). The findings clearly support the view of a hypersensitive threat-detection system, combined with disorder-related alterations in amygdala-prefrontal cortex connectivity in pathological anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga Laeger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Institute for Psychology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Christian Dobel
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Britta Radenz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Harald Kugel
- Department of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Kati Keuper
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Annuschka Eden
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Volker Arolt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Udo Dannlowski
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Peter Zwanzger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- kbo-Inn-Salzach-Hospital, Wasserburg am Inn, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Riwkes S, Goldstein A, Gilboa-Schechtman E. The temporal unfolding of face processing in social anxiety disorder--a MEG study. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2014; 7:678-87. [PMID: 25844308 PMCID: PMC4377840 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2014.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2014] [Revised: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 11/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
The current study is the first to use magnetoencephalography (MEG) to examine how individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD) process emotional facial expressions (EFEs). We expected that, compared to healthy controls (HCs), participants with SAD will show an early (<200 ms post-stimulus) over-activation in the insula and the fusiform gyrus (FG, associated with the N170/M170 component), and later (>200 ms post-stimulus) over-activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Individuals with SAD (n = 12) and healthy controls (HCs, n = 12) were presented with photographs of facial displays during MEG recording. As compared to the HC group, the SAD group showed a reduced M170 (right FG under-activation around 130–200 ms); early reduced activation in the right insula, and lower insular sensitivity to the type of EFE displayed. In addition, the SAD group showed a late over-activation in the right DLPFC. This unique EFE processing pattern in SAD suggests an early under-activation of cortical areas, possibly related to reduced emphasis on high spatial frequency information and greater early emphasis on low spatial frequency information. The late DLPFC over-activation in the SAD group may correlate to failures of cognitive control in this disorder. The importance of a temporal perspective for the understanding of facial processing in psychopathology is underlined. This study is the first to use MEG to study social anxiety disorder (SAD). SADs and controls viewed emotional facial expressions during MEG. Compared to controls, SADs showed reduced M170 (early fusiform gyrus activity). SADs presented a late over-activation in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The late frontal over-activity may correlate to failures of cognitive control in SAD.
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Key Words
- AFNI, analysis of functional neuroimages
- BDI, Beck Depression Inventory
- Cognitive control
- DLPFC, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
- EEG, electroencephalography
- EFE, emotional facial expressions
- FG, fusiform gyrus
- FMRI, functional magnetic resonance imaging
- FNE, fear of negative evaluation
- Facial processing
- HC, healthy control
- HSF, high spatial frequency
- LSAS, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale
- LSF, low spatial frequency
- MEG, magnetoencephalography
- Magnetoenchephalography
- Regulation
- SA, social anxiety
- SAD, social anxiety disorder
- SAM, synthetic aperture modeling
- Social anxiety
- TMS, transcranial magnetic stimulation
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Riwkes
- Department of Psychology, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 52900, Israel
| | - Abraham Goldstein
- Department of Psychology, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 52900, Israel
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Neuroimaging in social anxiety disorder—A meta-analytic review resulting in a new neurofunctional model. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2014; 47:260-80. [PMID: 25124509 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 237] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2014] [Revised: 06/26/2014] [Accepted: 08/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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49
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Frontal white matter alterations in short-term medicated panic disorder patients without comorbid conditions: a diffusion tensor imaging study. PLoS One 2014; 9:e95279. [PMID: 24788587 PMCID: PMC4005735 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2013] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The frontal cortex might play an important role in the fear network, and white matter (WM) integrity could be related to the pathophysiology of panic disorder (PD). A few studies have investigated alterations of WM integrity in PD. The aim of this study was to determine frontal WM integrity differences between patients with PD without comorbid conditions and healthy control (HC) subjects by using diffusion tensor imaging. Thirty-six patients with PD who had used medication within 1 week and 27 age- and sex-matched HC subjects participated in this study. Structural brain magnetic resonance imaging was performed on all participants. Panic Disorder Severity Scale and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores were assessed. Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) was used for image analysis. TBSS analysis showed decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in frontal WM and WM around the frontal lobe, including the corpus callosum of both hemispheres, in patients with PD compared to HC subjects. Moreover, voxel-wise correlation analysis revealed that the BAI scores for patients with PD were positively correlated with their FA values for regions showing group differences in the FA of frontal WM of both hemispheres. Altered integrity in frontal WM of patients with PD without comorbid conditions might represent the structural pathophysiology in these patients, and these changes could be related to clinical symptoms of PD.
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50
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Long-term effects of postearthquake distress on brain microstructural changes. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:180468. [PMID: 24551840 PMCID: PMC3914581 DOI: 10.1155/2014/180468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2013] [Revised: 12/15/2013] [Accepted: 12/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Stressful events can have both short- and long-term effects on the brain. Our recent investigation identified short-term white matter integrity (WMI) changes in 30 subjects soon after the Japanese earthquake. Our findings suggested that lower WMI in the right anterior cingulum (Cg) was a pre-existing vulnerability factor and increased WMI in the left anterior Cg and uncinate fasciculus (Uf) after the earthquake was an acquired sign of postearthquake distress. However, the long-term effects on WMI remained unclear. Here, we examined the 1-year WMI changes in 25 subjects to clarify long-term effects on the WMI. We found differential FAs in the right anterior Cg, bilateral Uf, left superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), and left thalamus, suggesting that synaptic enhancement and shrinkage were long-term effects. Additionally, the correlation between psychological measures related to postearthquake distress and the degree of WMI alternation in the right anterior Cg and the left Uf led us to speculate that temporal WMI changes in some subjects with emotional distress occurred soon after the disaster. We hypothesized that dynamic WMI changes predict a better prognosis, whereas persistently lower WMI is a marker of cognitive dysfunction, implying the development of anxiety disorders.
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