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Kaltsouni E, Schmidt F, Zsido RG, Eriksson A, Sacher J, Sundström-Poromaa I, Sumner RL, Comasco E. Electroencephalography findings in menstrually-related mood disorders: A critical review. Front Neuroendocrinol 2024; 72:101120. [PMID: 38176542 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2023.101120] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
The female reproductive years are characterized by fluctuations in ovarian hormones across the menstrual cycle, which have the potential to modulate neurophysiological and behavioral dynamics. Menstrually-related mood disorders (MRMDs) comprise cognitive-affective or somatic symptoms that are thought to be triggered by the rapid fluctuations in ovarian hormones in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. MRMDs include premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and premenstrual exacerbation (PME) of other psychiatric disorders. Electroencephalography (EEG) non-invasively records in vivo synchronous activity from populations of neurons with high temporal resolution. The present overview sought to systematically review the current state of task-related and resting-state EEG investigations on MRMDs. Preliminary evidence indicates lower alpha asymmetry at rest being associated with MRMDs, while one study points to the effect being luteal-phase specific. Moreover, higher luteal spontaneous frontal brain activity (slow/fast wave ratio as measured by the delta/beta power ratio) has been observed in persons with MRMDs, while sleep architecture results point to potential circadian rhythm disturbances. In this review, we discuss the quality of study designs as well as future perspectives and challenges of supplementing the diagnostic and scientific toolbox for MRMDs with EEG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisavet Kaltsouni
- Department of Womeńs and Childreńs Health, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Felix Schmidt
- Department of Womeńs and Childreńs Health, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden; Centre for Women's Mental Health during the Reproductive Lifespan, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rachel G Zsido
- Cognitive Neuroendocrinology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory for Sex Differences in the Brain, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA
| | - Allison Eriksson
- Centre for Women's Mental Health during the Reproductive Lifespan, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Womeńs and Childreńs Health, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Julia Sacher
- Cognitive Neuroendocrinology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Germany; Clinic of Cognitive Neurology, University of Leipzig, Germany
| | | | | | - Erika Comasco
- Department of Womeńs and Childreńs Health, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden.
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Barth C, Crestol A, de Lange AMG, Galea LAM. Sex steroids and the female brain across the lifespan: insights into risk of depression and Alzheimer's disease. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2023; 11:926-941. [PMID: 37865102 DOI: 10.1016/s2213-8587(23)00224-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
Despite widespread sex differences in prevalence and presentation of numerous illnesses affecting the human brain, there has been little focus on the effect of endocrine ageing. Most preclinical studies have focused on males only, and clinical studies often analyse data by covarying for sex, ignoring relevant differences between the sexes. This sex- (and gender)-neutral approach is biased and contributes to the absence of targeted treatments and services for all sexes (and genders). Female health has been historically understudied, with grave consequences for their wellbeing and health equity. In this Review, we spotlight female brain health across the lifespan by informing on the role of sex steroids, particularly oestradiol, on the female brain and on risk for diseases more prevalent in females, such as depression and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Barth
- Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Arielle Crestol
- Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ann-Marie G de Lange
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Liisa A M Galea
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
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3
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Noachtar IA, Frokjaer VG, Pletzer B. Mental Health Symptoms in Oral Contraceptive Users During Short-Term Hormone Withdrawal. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2335957. [PMID: 37755829 PMCID: PMC10534273 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.35957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Hormonal contraception has been linked to mood symptoms and the ability to recognize emotions after short periods of treatment, whereas the mental health of users of long-term hormonal contraceptives has had limited investigation. Objective To evaluate whether short-term hormonal withdrawal, which users of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) undergo once a month (pill pause), was associated with altered mood and emotional recognition in long-term users of COCs. Design, Setting, and Participants This case-control study included a community sample of individuals assigned female sex at birth who identified as women and used COC for 6 months or longer. The control group included women with natural menstrual cycles who otherwise fulfilled the same inclusion criteria. The study was conducted between April 2021 and June 2022 in Salzburg, Austria. Exposure COC users and women with natural menstrual cycles were tested twice within a month, once during their active pill phase or luteal phase and once during their pill pause or menses. Main Outcomes and Measures Negative affect, anxiety, and mental health problems were assessed during each session. The percentage increase in mental health symptoms was calculated during the pill pause compared with that during the active intake phase in COC users. How this change compared with mood fluctuations along the menstrual cycle in women with natural menstrual cycles was assessed. Results A total of 181 women aged 18 to 35 years (mean [SD] age, 22.7 [3.5] years) were included in the analysis (61 women with androgenic COC use, 59 with antiandrogenic COC use, 60 women with a menstrual cycle not taking COCs). COC users showed a 12.67% increase in negative affect (95% CI, 6.94%-18.39%), 7.42% increase in anxiety (95% CI, 3.43%-11.40%), and 23.61% increase in mental health symptoms (95% CI, 16.49%-30.73%; P < .001) during the pill pause compared with the active intake phase. The effect size of this change did not differ depending on progestin type (negative affect: F1,117 = 0.30, P = .59; state anxiety: F1,117 = 2.15, P = .15; mental health: F1,117 = .16, P = .69) or ethinylestradiol dose (negative affect: F1,57 = .99, P = .32; state anxiety: F1,57 = 2.30, P = .13; mental health: F1,57 = .14, P = .71) was comparable with mood changes along the menstrual cycle in women with natural cycles (negative affect: F2,175 = 0.13, P = .87; state anxiety: F2,175 = 0.14, P = .32; mental health: F2,175 = 0.65, P = .52). Mood worsening during the pill pause was more pronounced in women with higher baseline depression scores (negative affect increase of 17.95% [95% CI, 7.80%-28.10%] in COC users with higher trait depression [BDI >8]). Emotion recognition performance did not differ between active pill phase and pill pause. Conclusions and Relevance In this case-control study of long-term COC users, withdrawal from contraceptive steroids during the pill pause was associated with adverse mental health symptoms similar to those experienced by women during menses with withdrawal from endogenous steroids. These results question the use of the pill pause from a mental health perspective. Long-term COC users may benefit more from the mood-stabilizing effects of COCs in cases of continuous intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel A. Noachtar
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Vibe G. Frokjaer
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Psychiatric Center Copenhagen, Mental Health Services Capital Region of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Belinda Pletzer
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
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Hidalgo-Lopez E, Engman J, Poromaa IS, Gingnell M, Pletzer B. Triple network model of brain connectivity changes related to adverse mood effects in an oral contraceptive placebo-controlled trial. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:209. [PMID: 37328507 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02470-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Combined oral contraceptives (COC) are among the most commonly used contraceptive methods worldwide, and mood side effects are the major reason for discontinuation of treatment. We here investigate the directed connectivity patterns associated with the mood side effects of an androgenic COC in a double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled trial in women with a history of affective COC side effects (n = 34). We used spectral dynamic causal modeling on a triple network model consisting of the default mode network (DMN), salience network (SN) and executive control network (ECN). Within this framework, we assessed the treatment-related changes in directed connectivity associated with adverse mood side effects. Overall, during COC use, we found a pattern of enhanced connectivity within the DMN and decreased connectivity within the ECN. The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (SN) mediates an increased recruitment of the DMN by the ECN during treatment. Mood lability was the most prominent COC-induced symptom and also arose as the side effect most consistently related to connectivity changes. Connections that were related to increased mood lability showed increased connectivity during COC treatment, while connections that were related to decreased mood lability showed decreased connectivity during COC treatment. Among these, the connections with the highest effect size could also predict the participants' treatment group above chance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmeralda Hidalgo-Lopez
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Anesthesiology, Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Jonas Engman
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Inger Sundström Poromaa
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
- Centre for Women's Mental Health during the Reproductive Lifespan, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Malin Gingnell
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Belinda Pletzer
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
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Song JY, Patton CD, Friedman R, Mahajan LS, Nordlicht R, Sayed R, Lipton ML. Hormonal contraceptives and the brain: A systematic review on 60 years of neuroimaging, EEG, and biochemical studies in humans and animals. Front Neuroendocrinol 2023; 68:101051. [PMID: 36577486 PMCID: PMC9898167 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2022.101051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Hormonal contraception has been widely prescribed for decades. Although safety and efficacy are well-established, much uncertainty remains regarding brain effects of hormonal contraception. We systematically review human and animal studies on the brain effects of hormonal contraception which employed neuroimaging techniques such as MRI, PET and EEG, as well as animal studies which reported on neurotransmitter and other brain biochemical effects. We screened 1001 articles and ultimately extracted data from 70, comprising 51 human and 19 animal studies. Of note, there were no animal studies which employed structural or functional MRI, MRS or PET. In summary, our review shows hormonal contraceptive associations with changes in the brain have been documented. Many questions remain and more studies are needed to describe the effects of hormonal contraception on the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Y Song
- The Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA; Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA; The Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | | | - Renee Friedman
- The Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Lakshmi S Mahajan
- The Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Rachel Nordlicht
- The Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Rahman Sayed
- The Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Michael L Lipton
- The Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA; Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA; The Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
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6
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Casto KV, Jordan T, Petersen N. Hormone-based models for comparing menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive effects on human resting-state functional connectivity. Front Neuroendocrinol 2022; 67:101036. [PMID: 36126748 PMCID: PMC9649880 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2022.101036] [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: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Oral contraceptives (OCs) are widely used yet understudied given their potential for public health consequences. Emerging investigations scaling from single-subject, dense-sampling neuroimaging studies to population-level metrics have linked OCs to altered brain structure and function. Modeling the hypogonadal, hypergonadal, or mixed state effects of OCs in terms of their impact on hormone action in the brain is a valuable approach to synthesizing results across neuroimaging studies and comparing OC effects to companion findings from research on menstrual cycle phase effects on brain anatomy and function. Resting-state functional connectivity studies provide a powerful tool to evaluate the role of OCs on the intrinsic network connectivity that underlies multiple behavioral domains. The preponderance (but not consensus) of the current literature indicates that (1) as the menstrual cycle proceeds from a low to high progesterone state, prefrontal connectivity increases and parietal connectivity decreases; (2) OCs tend to mimic this connectivity pattern; therefore (3) OCs may produce a hyperprogestogenic state in the brain, in spite of overall reductions in endogenous steroid hormone levels. Alternative models are also considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen V Casto
- Social Sciences Division, New College of Florida, 5800 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, FL 34243, USA
| | - Timothy Jordan
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Nicole Petersen
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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7
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Jett S, Schelbaum E, Jang G, Boneu Yepez C, Dyke JP, Pahlajani S, Diaz Brinton R, Mosconi L. Ovarian steroid hormones: A long overlooked but critical contributor to brain aging and Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:948219. [PMID: 35928995 PMCID: PMC9344010 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.948219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian hormones, particularly 17β-estradiol, are involved in numerous neurophysiological and neurochemical processes, including those subserving cognitive function. Estradiol plays a key role in the neurobiology of aging, in part due to extensive interconnectivity of the neural and endocrine system. This aspect of aging is fundamental for women's brains as all women experience a drop in circulating estradiol levels in midlife, after menopause. Given the importance of estradiol for brain function, it is not surprising that up to 80% of peri-menopausal and post-menopausal women report neurological symptoms including changes in thermoregulation (vasomotor symptoms), mood, sleep, and cognitive performance. Preclinical evidence for neuroprotective effects of 17β-estradiol also indicate associations between menopause, cognitive aging, and Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia affecting nearly twice more women than men. Brain imaging studies demonstrated that middle-aged women exhibit increased indicators of AD endophenotype as compared to men of the same age, with onset in perimenopause. Herein, we take a translational approach to illustrate the contribution of ovarian hormones in maintaining cognition in women, with evidence implicating menopause-related declines in 17β-estradiol in cognitive aging and AD risk. We will review research focused on the role of endogenous and exogenous estrogen exposure as a key underlying mechanism to neuropathological aging in women, with a focus on whether brain structure, function and neurochemistry respond to hormone treatment. While still in development, this research area offers a new sex-based perspective on brain aging and risk of AD, while also highlighting an urgent need for better integration between neurology, psychiatry, and women's health practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Jett
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Eva Schelbaum
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Grace Jang
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Camila Boneu Yepez
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jonathan P. Dyke
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Silky Pahlajani
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Roberta Diaz Brinton
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Lisa Mosconi
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
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8
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Schuster V, Jansen A. 'That Time of the Month' - Investigating the Influence of the Menstrual Cycle and Oral Contraceptives on the Brain Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2022; 130:303-312. [PMID: 35605601 DOI: 10.1055/a-1816-8203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
The stereotypic and oversimplified relationship between female sex hormones and undesirable behavior dates to the earliest days of human society, as already the ancient Greek word for the uterus, "hystera" indicated an aversive connection. Remaining and evolving throughout the centuries, transcending across cultures and various aspects of everyday life, its perception was only recently reframed. Contemporarily, the complex interaction of hormonal phases (i. e., the menstrual cycle), hormonal medication (i. e., oral contraceptives), women's psychological well-being, and behavior is the subject of multifaceted and more reflected discussions. A driving force of this ongoing paradigm shift was the introduction of this highly interesting and important topic into the realm of scientific research. This refers to neuroscientific research as it enables a multimodal approach combining aspects of physiology, medicine, and psychology. Here a growing body of literature points towards significant alterations of both brain function, such as lateralization of cognitive functions, and structure, such as gray matter concentrations, due to fluctuations and changes in hormonal levels. This especially concerns female sex hormones. However, the more research is conducted within this field, the less reliable these observations and derived insights appear. This may be due to two particular factors: measurement inconsistencies and diverse hormonal phases accompanied by interindividual differences. The first factor refers to the prominent unreliability of one of the primarily utilized neuroscientific research instruments: functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This unreliability is seemingly present in paradigms and analyses, and their interplay, and is additionally affected by the second factor. In more detail, hormonal phases and levels further influence neuroscientific results obtained through fMRI as outcomes vary drastically across different cycle phases and medication. This resulting vast uncertainty thus tremendously hinders the further advancement of our understanding of how female sex hormones might alter brain structure and function and, ultimately, behavior.This review summarizes parts of the current state of research and outlines the essential requirements to further investigate and understand the female brain's underlying physiological and anatomical features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Schuster
- Laboratory for Multimodal Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Jansen
- Laboratory for Multimodal Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Germany.,Core-Unit Brainimaging, Faculty of Medicine, University of Marburg, Germany
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9
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Altered resting-state functional networks in patients with premenstrual syndrome: a graph-theoretical based study. Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 16:435-444. [PMID: 34417967 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-021-00518-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a menstrual cycle-related disorder. Previous studies have indicated alterations of brain functional connectivity in PMS patients. However, little is known about the overall organization of brain network in PMS patients. Functional magnetic resonance imaging data deriving from 20 PMS patients and 21 healthy controls (HCs). Pearson correlation between mean time-series was used to estimate connectivity matrix between each paired regions of interest, and the connectivity matrix for each participant was then binarized. Graph theory analysis was applied to assess each participant's global and local topological properties of brain functional network. Correlation analysis was performed to evaluate relationships between the daily rating of severity of problems (DRSP) and abnormal network properties. PMS patients had lower small-worldness values than HCs. PMS-related alterations of nodal properties were mainly found in the posterior cingulate cortex, precuneus and angular gyrus. The PMS-related abnormal connectivity components were mainly associated with the thalamus, putamen and middle cingulate cortex. In the PMS group, the DRSP score were negatively correlated with the area under the curves of nodal local efficiency in the posterior cingulate cortex. Our study suggests that the graph-theory method may be one potential tool to detect disruptions of brain connections and may provide important evidence for understanding the PMS from the disrupted network organization perspective.
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10
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Hidalgo-Lopez E, Zeidman P, Harris T, Razi A, Pletzer B. Spectral dynamic causal modelling in healthy women reveals brain connectivity changes along the menstrual cycle. Commun Biol 2021; 4:954. [PMID: 34376799 PMCID: PMC8355156 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02447-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Longitudinal menstrual cycle studies allow to investigate the effects of ovarian hormones on brain organization. Here, we use spectral dynamic causal modelling (spDCM) in a triple network model to assess effective connectivity changes along the menstrual cycle within and between the default mode, salience and executive control networks (DMN, SN, and ECN). Sixty healthy young women were scanned three times along their menstrual cycle, during early follicular, pre-ovulatory and mid-luteal phase. Related to estradiol, right before ovulation the left insula recruits the ECN, while the right middle frontal gyrus decreases its connectivity to the precuneus and the DMN decouples into anterior/posterior parts. Related to progesterone during the mid-luteal phase, the insulae (SN) engage to each other, while decreasing their connectivity to parietal ECN, which in turn engages the posterior DMN. When including the most confident connections in a leave-one out cross-validation, we find an above-chance prediction of the left-out subjects' cycle phase. These findings corroborate the plasticity of the female brain in response to acute hormone fluctuations and may help to further understand the neuroendocrine interactions underlying cognitive changes along the menstrual cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmeralda Hidalgo-Lopez
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Peter Zeidman
- The Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, UK
| | - TiAnni Harris
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Adeel Razi
- The Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, UK
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Belinda Pletzer
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
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11
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Liparoti M, Troisi Lopez E, Sarno L, Rucco R, Minino R, Pesoli M, Perruolo G, Formisano P, Lucidi F, Sorrentino G, Sorrentino P. Functional brain network topology across the menstrual cycle is estradiol dependent and correlates with individual well-being. J Neurosci Res 2021; 99:2271-2286. [PMID: 34110041 PMCID: PMC8453714 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The menstrual cycle (MC) is a sex hormone‐related phenomenon that repeats itself cyclically during the woman's reproductive life. In this explorative study, we hypothesized that coordinated variations of multiple sex hormones may affect the large‐scale organization of the brain functional network and that, in turn, such changes might have psychological correlates, even in the absence of overt clinical signs of anxiety and/or depression. To test our hypothesis, we investigated longitudinally, across the MC, the relationship between the sex hormones and both brain network and psychological changes. We enrolled 24 naturally cycling women and, at the early‐follicular, peri‐ovulatory, and mid‐luteal phases of the MC, we performed: (a) sex hormone dosage, (b) magnetoencephalography recording to study the brain network topology, and (c) psychological questionnaires to quantify anxiety, depression, self‐esteem, and well‐being. We showed that during the peri‐ovulatory phase, in the alpha band, the leaf fraction and the tree hierarchy of the brain network were reduced, while the betweenness centrality (BC) of the right posterior cingulate gyrus (rPCG) was increased. Furthermore, the increase in BC was predicted by estradiol levels. Moreover, during the luteal phase, the variation of estradiol correlated positively with the variations of both the topological change and environmental mastery dimension of the well‐being test, which, in turn, was related to the increase in the BC of rPCG. Our results highlight the effects of sex hormones on the large‐scale brain network organization as well as on their possible relationship with the psychological state across the MC. Moreover, the fact that physiological changes in the brain topology occur throughout the MC has widespread implications for neuroimaging studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Liparoti
- Department of Motor Sciences and Wellness, University of Naples "Parthenope", Naples, Italy
| | - Emahnuel Troisi Lopez
- Department of Motor Sciences and Wellness, University of Naples "Parthenope", Naples, Italy
| | - Laura Sarno
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Science and Dentistry, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Rosaria Rucco
- Department of Motor Sciences and Wellness, University of Naples "Parthenope", Naples, Italy.,Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, CNR, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Roberta Minino
- Department of Motor Sciences and Wellness, University of Naples "Parthenope", Naples, Italy
| | - Matteo Pesoli
- Department of Motor Sciences and Wellness, University of Naples "Parthenope", Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Perruolo
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.,URT "Genomic of Diabetes" of Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology, National Council of Research, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Pietro Formisano
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.,URT "Genomic of Diabetes" of Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology, National Council of Research, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Fabio Lucidi
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Sorrentino
- Department of Motor Sciences and Wellness, University of Naples "Parthenope", Naples, Italy.,Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, CNR, Pozzuoli, Italy.,Hermitage Capodimonte Clinic, Naples, Italy
| | - Pierpaolo Sorrentino
- Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, CNR, Pozzuoli, Italy.,Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Faculty of Medicine, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
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12
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Dubol M, Epperson CN, Sacher J, Pletzer B, Derntl B, Lanzenberger R, Sundström-Poromaa I, Comasco E. Neuroimaging the menstrual cycle: A multimodal systematic review. Front Neuroendocrinol 2021; 60:100878. [PMID: 33098847 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence indicates that ovarian hormones affect brain structure, chemistry and function of women in their reproductive age, potentially shaping their behavior and mental health. Throughout the reproductive years, estrogens and progesterone levels fluctuate across the menstrual cycle and can modulate neural circuits involved in affective and cognitive processes. Here, we review seventy-seven neuroimaging studies and provide a comprehensive and data-driven evaluation of the accumulating evidence on brain plasticity associated with endogenous ovarian hormone fluctuations in naturally cycling women (n = 1304). The results particularly suggest modulatory effects of ovarian hormones fluctuations on the reactivity and structure of cortico-limbic brain regions. These findings highlight the importance of performing multimodal neuroimaging studies on neural correlates of systematic ovarian hormone fluctuations in naturally cycling women based on careful menstrual cycle staging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Dubol
- Department of Neuroscience, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - C Neill Epperson
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine-Anschutz Medical Campus, USA
| | - Julia Sacher
- Emotion Neuroimaging Lab, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Germany
| | - Belinda Pletzer
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Austria
| | - Birgit Derntl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Erika Comasco
- Department of Neuroscience, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
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13
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Taylor CM, Pritschet L, Jacobs EG. The scientific body of knowledge - Whose body does it serve? A spotlight on oral contraceptives and women's health factors in neuroimaging. Front Neuroendocrinol 2021; 60:100874. [PMID: 33002517 PMCID: PMC7882021 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Women constitute half of the world's population, yet neuroscience research does not serve the sexes equally. Fifty years of preclinical animal evidence documents the tightly-coupled relationship between our endocrine and nervous systems, yet human neuroimaging studies rarely consider how endocrine factors shape the structural and functional architecture of the human brain. Here, we quantify several blind spots in neuroimaging research, which overlooks aspects of the human condition that impact women's health (e.g. the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraceptives, pregnancy, menopause). Next, we illuminate potential consequences of this oversight: today over 100 million women use oral hormonal contraceptives, yet relatively few investigations have systematically examined whether disrupting endogenous hormone production impacts the brain. We close by presenting a roadmap for progress, highlighting the University of California Women's Brain Initiative which is addressing unmet needs in women's health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M Taylor
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, United States.
| | - Laura Pritschet
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, United States
| | - Emily G Jacobs
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, United States; Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, United States.
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14
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Meeker TJ, Veldhuijzen DS, Keaser ML, Gullapalli RP, Greenspan JD. Menstrual Cycle Variations in Gray Matter Volume, White Matter Volume and Functional Connectivity: Critical Impact on Parietal Lobe. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:594588. [PMID: 33414702 PMCID: PMC7783210 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.594588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of gonadal hormones in neural plasticity remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the effects of naturally fluctuating hormone levels over the menstrual cycle in healthy females. Gray matter, functional connectivity (FC) and white matter changes over the cycle were assessed by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), resting state fMRI, and structural MRIs, respectively, and associated with serum gonadal hormone levels. Moreover, electrocutaneous sensitivity was evaluated in 14 women in four phases of their menstrual cycle (menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, and luteal). Electrocutaneous sensitivity was greater during follicular compared to menstrual phase. Additionally, pain unpleasantness was lower in follicular phase than other phases while pain intensity ratings did not change over the cycle. Significant variations in cycle phase effects on gray matter volume were found in the left inferior parietal lobule (IPL) using voxel-based morphometry. Subsequent Freesurfer analysis revealed greater thickness of left IPL during the menstrual phase when compared to other phases. Also, white matter volume fluctuated across phases in left IPL. Blood estradiol was positively correlated with white matter volume both in left parietal cortex and whole cortex. Seed-driven FC between left IPL and right secondary visual cortex was enhanced during ovulatory phase. A seed placed in right IPL revealed enhanced FC between left and right IPL during the ovulatory phase. Additionally, we found that somatosensory cortical gray matter was thinner during follicular compared to menstrual phase. We discuss these results in the context of likely evolutionary pressures selecting for enhanced perceptual sensitivity across modalities specifically during ovulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J. Meeker
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Center to Advance Chronic Pain Research, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Dieuwke S. Veldhuijzen
- Institute of Psychology, Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Michael L. Keaser
- Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Center to Advance Chronic Pain Research, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Rao P. Gullapalli
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Imaging, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Joel D. Greenspan
- Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Center to Advance Chronic Pain Research, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, United States
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15
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Brønnick MK, Økland I, Graugaard C, Brønnick KK. The Effects of Hormonal Contraceptives on the Brain: A Systematic Review of Neuroimaging Studies. Front Psychol 2020; 11:556577. [PMID: 33224053 PMCID: PMC7667464 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.556577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Hormonal contraceptive drugs are being used by adult and adolescent women all over the world. Convergent evidence from animal research indicates that contraceptive substances can alter both structure and function of the brain, yet such effects are not part of the public discourse or clinical decision-making concerning these drugs. We thus conducted a systematic review of the neuroimaging literature to assess the current evidence of hormonal contraceptive influence on the human brain. Methods: The review was registered in PROSPERO and conducted in accordance with the PRISMA criteria for systematic reviews. Structural and functional neuroimaging studies concerning the use of hormonal contraceptives, indexed in Embase, PubMed and/or PsycINFO until February 2020 were included, following a comprehensive and systematic search based on predetermined selection criteria. Results: A total of 33 articles met the inclusion criteria. Ten of these were structural studies, while 23 were functional investigations. Only one study investigated effects on an adolescent sample. The quality of the articles varied as many had methodological challenges as well as partially unfounded theoretical claims. However, most of the included neuroimaging studies found functional and/or structural brain changes associated with the use of hormonal contraceptives. Conclusion: The included studies identified structural and functional changes in areas involved in affective and cognitive processing, such as the amygdala, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and cingulate gyrus. However, only one study reported primary research on a purely adolescent sample. Thus, there is a need for further investigation of the implications of these findings, especially with regard to adolescent girls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marita Kallesten Brønnick
- Center for Clinical Research in Psychosis (TIPS), Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Center for Sexology Research, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Inger Økland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.,Department for Caring and Ethics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Christian Graugaard
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Center for Sexology Research, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Kolbjørn Kallesten Brønnick
- SESAM, Department of Psychiatry, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.,Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway
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16
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Dhamala E, Jamison KW, Sabuncu MR, Kuceyeski A. Sex classification using long-range temporal dependence of resting-state functional MRI time series. Hum Brain Mapp 2020; 41:3567-3579. [PMID: 32627300 PMCID: PMC7416025 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A thorough understanding of sex differences that exist in the brains of healthy individuals is crucial for the study of neurological illnesses that exhibit phenotypic differences between males and females. Here we evaluate sex differences in regional temporal dependence of resting-state brain activity in 195 adult male-female pairs strictly matched for total grey matter volume from the Human Connectome Project. We find that males have more persistent temporal dependence in regions within temporal, parietal, and occipital cortices. Machine learning algorithms trained on regional temporal dependence measures achieve sex classification accuracies up to 81%. Regions with the strongest feature importance in the sex classification task included cerebellum, amygdala, and frontal and occipital cortices. Secondarily, we show that even after strict matching of total gray matter volume, significant volumetric sex differences persist; males have larger absolute cerebella, hippocampi, parahippocampi, thalami, caudates, and amygdalae while females have larger absolute cingulates, precunei, and frontal and parietal cortices. Sex classification based on regional volume achieves accuracies up to 85%, highlighting the importance of strict volume-matching when studying brain-based sex differences. Differential patterns in regional temporal dependence between the sexes identifies a potential neurobiological substrate or environmental effect underlying sex differences in functional brain activation patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvisha Dhamala
- Department of RadiologyWeill Cornell MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Brain and Mind Research InstituteWeill Cornell MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Keith W. Jamison
- Department of RadiologyWeill Cornell MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Mert R. Sabuncu
- School of Electrical and Computer EngineeringCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
- Meinig School of Biomedical EngineeringCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
| | - Amy Kuceyeski
- Department of RadiologyWeill Cornell MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Brain and Mind Research InstituteWeill Cornell MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
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17
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Pritschet L, Santander T, Taylor CM, Layher E, Yu S, Miller MB, Grafton ST, Jacobs EG. Functional reorganization of brain networks across the human menstrual cycle. Neuroimage 2020; 220:117091. [PMID: 32621974 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain is an endocrine organ, sensitive to the rhythmic changes in sex hormone production that occurs in most mammalian species. In rodents and nonhuman primates, estrogen and progesterone's impact on the brain is evident across a range of spatiotemporal scales. Yet, the influence of sex hormones on the functional architecture of the human brain is largely unknown. In this dense-sampling, deep phenotyping study, we examine the extent to which endogenous fluctuations in sex hormones alter intrinsic brain networks at rest in a woman who underwent brain imaging and venipuncture for 30 consecutive days. Standardized regression analyses illustrate estrogen and progesterone's widespread associations with functional connectivity. Time-lagged analyses examined the temporal directionality of these relationships and suggest that cortical network dynamics (particularly in the Default Mode and Dorsal Attention Networks, whose hubs are densely populated with estrogen receptors) are preceded-and perhaps driven-by hormonal fluctuations. A similar pattern of associations was observed in a follow-up study one year later. Together, these results reveal the rhythmic nature in which brain networks reorganize across the human menstrual cycle. Neuroimaging studies that densely sample the individual connectome have begun to transform our understanding of the brain's functional organization. As these results indicate, taking endocrine factors into account is critical for fully understanding the intrinsic dynamics of the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Pritschet
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Tyler Santander
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Caitlin M Taylor
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Evan Layher
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Shuying Yu
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Michael B Miller
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA; Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA; Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Scott T Grafton
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA; Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Emily G Jacobs
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
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18
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Chen CS, Krishnakumar T, Rowles W, Anderson A, Zhao C, Do L, Bove R. Comparison of MS inflammatory activity in women using continuous versus cyclic combined oral contraceptives. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2020; 41:101970. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2020.101970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2019] [Revised: 12/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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19
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Weis S, Patil KR, Hoffstaedter F, Nostro A, Yeo BTT, Eickhoff SB. Sex Classification by Resting State Brain Connectivity. Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:824-835. [PMID: 31251328 PMCID: PMC7444737 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A large amount of brain imaging research has focused on group studies delineating differences between males and females with respect to both cognitive performance as well as structural and functional brain organization. To supplement existing findings, the present study employed a machine learning approach to assess how accurately participants' sex can be classified based on spatially specific resting state (RS) brain connectivity, using 2 samples from the Human Connectome Project (n1 = 434, n2 = 310) and 1 fully independent sample from the 1000BRAINS study (n = 941). The classifier, which was trained on 1 sample and tested on the other 2, was able to reliably classify sex, both within sample and across independent samples, differing both with respect to imaging parameters and sample characteristics. Brain regions displaying highest sex classification accuracies were mainly located along the cingulate cortex, medial and lateral frontal cortex, temporoparietal regions, insula, and precuneus. These areas were stable across samples and match well with previously described sex differences in functional brain organization. While our data show a clear link between sex and regionally specific brain connectivity, they do not support a clear-cut dimorphism in functional brain organization that is driven by sex alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Weis
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Kaustubh R Patil
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Felix Hoffstaedter
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Alessandra Nostro
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Art and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - B T Thomas Yeo
- ECE, CIRC, N.1, MNP and NGS, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Simon B Eickhoff
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
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20
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Beltz AM, Moser JS. Ovarian hormones: a long overlooked but critical contributor to cognitive brain structures and function. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2020; 1464:156-180. [DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adriene M. Beltz
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan
| | - Jason S. Moser
- Department of PsychologyMichigan State University East Lansing Michigan
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21
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Hidalgo-Lopez E, Mueller K, Harris T, Aichhorn M, Sacher J, Pletzer B. Human menstrual cycle variation in subcortical functional brain connectivity: a multimodal analysis approach. Brain Struct Funct 2020; 225:591-605. [PMID: 31894405 PMCID: PMC7046575 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-02019-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that endogenous sex steroid changes affect human brain functional connectivity, which could be obtained by resting-state fMRI (RS-fMRI). Nevertheless, RS studies on the menstrual cycle (MC) are underrepresented and yield inconsistent results. We attribute these inconsistencies to the use of various methods in exploratory approaches and small sample sizes. Hormonal fluctuations along the MC likely elicit subtle changes that, however, may still have profound impact on network dynamics when affecting key brain nodes. To address these issues, we propose a ROI-based multimodal analysis approach focusing on areas of high functional relevance to adequately capture these changes. To that end, sixty naturally cycling women underwent RS-fMRI in three different cycle phases and we performed the following analyses: (1) group-independent component analyses to identify intrinsic connectivity networks, (2) eigenvector centrality (EC) as a measure of centrality in the global connectivity hierarchy, (3) amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) as a measure of oscillatory activity and (4) seed-based analyses to investigate functional connectivity from the ROIs. For (2)–(4), we applied a hypothesis-driven ROI approach in the hippocampus, caudate and putamen. In the luteal phase, we found (1) decreased intrinsic connectivity of the right angular gyrus with the default mode network, (2) heightened EC for the hippocampus, and (3) increased ALFF for the caudate. Furthermore, we observed (4) stronger putamen–thalamic connectivity during the luteal phase and stronger fronto-striatal connectivity during the pre-ovulatory phase. This hormonal modulation of connectivity dynamics may underlie behavioural, emotional and sensorimotor changes along the MC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmeralda Hidalgo-Lopez
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Karsten Mueller
- Methods and Development Group Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstrasse 1a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - TiAnni Harris
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Markus Aichhorn
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Julia Sacher
- Research Group EGG (Emotions and neuroimaGinG)-Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstrasse 1a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.,Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 16, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Belinda Pletzer
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
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22
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Abstract
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a menstrual cycle-related disorder. Although the precise pathophysiology is not fully understood, it is increasingly believed that the central nervous system plays a vital role in the development of PMS. The aim of this study is to elucidate specific functional connectivity between the thalamus and cerebral cortex. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were obtained from 20 PMS patients and 21 healthy controls (HCs). Seed-based functional connectivity between the thalamus and six cortical regions of interest, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC), posterior parietal cortex, somatosensory cortex, motor cortex/supplementary motor area, temporal and occipital lobe, was adopted to identify specific thalamocortical connectivity in the two groups. Correlation analysis was then used to examine relationships between the neuroimaging findings and clinical symptoms. Activity in distinct cortical regions correlated with specific sub-regions of the thalamus in the two groups. Comparison between groups exhibited decreased prefrontal-thalamic connectivity and increased posterior parietal-thalamic connectivity in the PMS patients. Within the PMS group, the daily record of severity of problems (DRSP) score negatively correlated with the prefrontal-thalamic connectivity. Our findings may provide preliminary evidence for abnormal thalamocortical connectivity in PMS patients and may contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of PMS.
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23
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Cerit H, Davidson P, Hye T, Moondra P, Haimovici F, Sogg S, Shikora S, Goldstein JM, Evins AE, Whitfield-Gabrieli S, Stoeckel LE, Holsen LM. Resting-State Brain Connectivity Predicts Weight Loss and Cognitive Control of Eating Behavior After Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2019; 27:1846-1855. [PMID: 31689011 PMCID: PMC6839788 DOI: 10.1002/oby.22607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The effects of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) on functional connectivity (FC) and associations with weight loss and eating-related cognitive control were investigated. METHODS In a longitudinal study, 14 SG patients (13 female; 42.1 presurgery BMI) completed study visits 1 month pre surgery and 12 months post surgery. Patients completed the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning to measure FC. Data were analyzed using a seed-to-voxel approach in the CONN Toolbox to investigate pre-/postsurgery changes (n = 12) and to conduct predictive analysis (n = 14). RESULTS Seed-to-voxel analysis revealed changes in magnitude (decreases) and directionality (positively correlated to anticorrelated) of FC pre to post surgery within and between default mode network, salience network, and frontoparietal network nodes [Family-Wise Error (FWE) corrected at P < 0.05]. Baseline FC of the nucleus accumbens (with insula) and hypothalamus (with precentral gyrus) predicted 12-month post-SG % total weight loss (FWE-P < 0.05). Baseline FC of the hippocampus, frontoparietal network, and default mode network nodes predicted improvement in cognitive control of eating behavior 12 months after SG (FWE-P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate changes in FC magnitude and directionality post versus pre surgery within and between resting-state networks and frontal, paralimbic, and visual areas in SG patients. Baseline FC predicted weight loss and changes in cognitive control of food intake behavior at 12 months. These could serve as predictive biomarkers for bariatric surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilâl Cerit
- Division of Women’s Health, Department of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
| | - Paul Davidson
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
- Center for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, Department of Surgery; Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
| | - Taryn Hye
- Division of Women’s Health, Department of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
| | - Priyanka Moondra
- Division of Women’s Health, Department of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
| | - Florina Haimovici
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
| | - Stephanie Sogg
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
- MGH Weight Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
| | - Scott Shikora
- Center for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, Department of Surgery; Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
| | - Jill M. Goldstein
- Division of Women’s Health, Department of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
- Division of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
| | - A. Eden Evins
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
- Division of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
| | - Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli
- Northeastern University Biomedical Imaging Center, College of Science, Northeastern University, Boston Massachusetts, United Stated of America
| | - Luke E. Stoeckel
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, United Stated of America
| | - Laura M. Holsen
- Division of Women’s Health, Department of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
- Corresponding author: Laura M. Holsen, Ph.D., Division of Women’s Health, BC-3, 1620 Tremont St. Boston, MA 02120, Office: (617) 525-8772, Fax: (617) 525-7900,
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Image-guided phenotyping of ovariectomized mice: altered functional connectivity, cognition, myelination, and dopaminergic functionality. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 74:77-89. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Dan R, Canetti L, Keadan T, Segman R, Weinstock M, Bonne O, Reuveni I, Goelman G. Sex differences during emotion processing are dependent on the menstrual cycle phase. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 100:85-95. [PMID: 30296706 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.09.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences in the neural processing of emotion are of special interest considering that mood and anxiety disorders predominant in females. However, these sex-related differences were typically studied without considering the hormonal status of female subjects, although emotion processing in the brain was shown to differ between phases of the menstrual cycle. In this functional MRI study, we demonstrated the influence of the menstrual cycle phase on sex differences in brain activity and functional connectivity during negative and positive emotions, using two different paradigms: emotion perception and emotion experience. Twenty naturally cycling healthy women without premenstrual symptoms were scanned twice: during the mid-follicular and late-luteal menstrual phases, and compared to a matched group of twenty healthy men. During negative emotion perception, men showed increased neural activity in the right hippocampal formation relative to women in the mid-follicular phase, and increased activity in the right cerebellum relative to women in the late-luteal phase. During experience of amusement, reduced putamen-ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and putamen-dorsomedial prefrontal cortex functional connectivity were observed for women in the late-luteal phase relative to men and associated with levels of sex hormones. These neural and hormonal findings were complemented by behavioral reports of reduced amusement and increased sadness in late-luteal women. Our results demonstrate menstrual phase-dependent sex differences in emotion perception and experience and may suggest a biological tendency for a deficient experience of pleasure and reward during the late-luteal phase. These findings may further shed light on the underlying pathophysiology of premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rotem Dan
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel; Department of Neurology, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Laura Canetti
- Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel; Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Tarek Keadan
- Department of Neurology, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ronen Segman
- Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Marta Weinstock
- Institute of drug research, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Omer Bonne
- Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Inbal Reuveni
- Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Gadi Goelman
- Department of Neurology, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
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Sex differences and the neurobiology of affective disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:111-128. [PMID: 30061743 PMCID: PMC6235863 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0148-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Observations of the disproportionate incidence of depression in women compared with men have long preceded the recent explosion of interest in sex differences. Nonetheless, the source and implications of this epidemiologic sex difference remain unclear, as does the practical significance of the multitude of sex differences that have been reported in brain structure and function. In this article, we attempt to provide a framework for thinking about how sex and reproductive hormones (particularly estradiol as an example) might contribute to affective illness. After briefly reviewing some observed sex differences in depression, we discuss how sex might alter brain function through hormonal effects (both organizational (programmed) and activational (acute)), sex chromosome effects, and the interaction of sex with the environment. We next review sex differences in the brain at the structural, cellular, and network levels. We then focus on how sex and reproductive hormones regulate systems implicated in the pathophysiology of depression, including neuroplasticity, genetic and neural networks, the stress axis, and immune function. Finally, we suggest several models that might explain a sex-dependent differential regulation of affect and susceptibility to affective illness. As a disclaimer, the studies cited in this review are not intended to be comprehensive but rather serve as examples of the multitude of levels at which sex and reproductive hormones regulate brain structure and function. As such and despite our current ignorance regarding both the ontogeny of affective illness and the impact of sex on that ontogeny, sex differences may provide a lens through which we may better view the mechanisms underlying affective regulation and dysfunction.
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Zhang S, Hu J, Fan W, Liu B, Wen L, Wang G, Gong M, Yang C, Zhang D. Aberrant Cerebral Activity in Early Postmenopausal Women: A Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:454. [PMID: 30534056 PMCID: PMC6275219 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Early postmenopausal women frequently suffer from cognitive impairments and emotional disorders, such as lack of attention, poor memory, deficits in executive function and depression. However, the underlying mechanisms of these impairments remain unclear. Method: Forty-three early postmenopausal women and forty-four age-matched premenopausal controls underwent serum sex hormone analysis, neuropsychological testing and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Degree centrality (DC) analysis was performed to confirm the peak points of the functionally abnormal brain areas as the centers of the seeds. Subsequently, the functional connectivity (FC) between these abnormal seeds and other voxels across the whole brain was calculated. Finally, the sex hormone levels, neuroimaging indices and neuropsychological data were combined to detect potential correlations. Results: Compared with the premenopausal controls, the early postmenopausal women exhibited significantly higher serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, more severe climacteric and depressive symptoms, worse sleep quality and more extensive cognitive impairments. Concurrently, the neuroimaging results showed elevated DC values in the left amygdala (AMYG.L), reduced DC values in the left middle occipital gyrus (MOG.L) and right middle occipital gyrus (MOG.R). When we used the AMYG.L as the seed point, FC with the left insula (INS.L), bilateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) and right superior frontal gyrus (SFG.R) was increased; these regions are related to depressive states, poor sleep quality and decreased executive function. When bilateral MOG were used as the seed points, FC with left inferior parietal gyrus (IPG.L), this area closely associated with impaired memory, was decreased. Conclusion: These results illuminated the regional and network-level brain dysfunction in early postmenopausal women, which might provide information on the underlying mechanisms of the different cognitive impairments and emotional alterations observed in this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Xinqiao Hosptial, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Junhao Hu
- Department of Radiology, Xinqiao Hosptial, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Weijie Fan
- Department of Radiology, Xinqiao Hosptial, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Radiology, Xinqiao Hosptial, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Wen
- Department of Radiology, Xinqiao Hosptial, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guangxian Wang
- Department of Radiology, Xinqiao Hosptial, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Mingfu Gong
- Department of Radiology, Xinqiao Hosptial, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chunyan Yang
- Department of Radiology, Xinqiao Hosptial, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Xinqiao Hosptial, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Wei SM, Schiller CE, Schmidt PJ, Rubinow DR. The role of ovarian steroids in affective disorders. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2018.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Andreano JM, Touroutoglou A, Dickerson B, Barrett LF. Hormonal Cycles, Brain Network Connectivity, and Windows of Vulnerability to Affective Disorder. Trends Neurosci 2018; 41:660-676. [PMID: 30274602 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2018.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The rate of affective disorder is substantially higher in women than in men, and considerable evidence points to the actions of ovarian hormones in mediating this disparity. In this Opinion, we discuss the hypothesis that cyclic changes in ovarian hormone levels produce cyclic alterations in connectivity between the intrinsic networks of the brain. These alterations produce specific temporal windows within the menstrual cycle when internetwork connectivity is increased, associated with increased stress reactivity and better memory for unpleasant, arousing events, leading to increased negative mood and susceptibility to affective disorder. Our windows of vulnerability model offers insights for both treatment of affective disorder and research on sex differences in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M Andreano
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
| | - Alexandra Touroutoglou
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown MA 02129, USA; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Brad Dickerson
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown MA 02129, USA; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Lisa Feldman Barrett
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
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Cortical and subcortical changes in patients with premenstrual syndrome. J Affect Disord 2018; 235:191-197. [PMID: 29656266 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.04.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is characterized by a series of emotional, physical and behavioral symptoms. Although PMS is related to dysfunctions of the central nervous system, the neuropathological mechanism of PMS still has not been clearly established. The aim of this study is to evaluate potential differences in both cortical thickness and subcortical volumes in PMS patients compared to healthy controls (HCs). METHODS Twenty PMS patients and twenty HCs underwent a structural magnetic resonance imaging scan and clinical assessment. Cortical thickness and subcortical volumes were computed using the FreeSurfer image analysis suite. Relationships between cortical thickness/subcortical volumes and the daily rating of severity of problems (DRSP) score were then measured in patients. RESULTS Compared to HCs, PMS patients exhibited reduced cortical thickness in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and insula, and increased subcortical volumes of the amygdala, thalamus and pallidum. Furthermore, negative correlations were detected between the DRSP and cortical thickness in the anterior cingulate cortex and precuneus. LIMITATIONS The study is limited by a small sample size and narrow age range of participants. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that the abnormal morphological changes are mainly implicated in emotional regulation and visceral perception in PMS patients. We hope that our study may contribute to a better understanding of PMS.
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Altered brain structure in women with premenstrual syndrome. J Affect Disord 2018; 229:239-246. [PMID: 29329055 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.12.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Revised: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Functional brain abnormalities have been noted in premenstrual syndrome (PMS). However, the brain structural alterations related to PMS remain unclear. This study aimed to identify possible abnormalities in gray matter (GM) volumes and structural covariance patterns among PMS patients. METHODS Structural magnetic resonance imaging data were obtained from 20 PMS patients and 20 healthy controls. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis was applied to examine GM volumes changes between the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to investigate the most reliable biomarker for distinguishing PMS patients from health controls based on the intergroup differences. Correlation analysis was then performed to assess relationships between the daily rating of severity of problems (DRSP) and abnormal brain regions. Finally, the regions identified from VBM analysis were served as seeds to characterize the whole-brain structural covariance patterns. RESULTS Compared with healthy controls, PMS patients showed increased GM volumes in the precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex (precuneus/PCC) and thalamus, and decreased GM volumes in the insula. The precuneus/PCC exhibited the highest classification power by ROC analysis and positively correlated with the DRSP. Moreover, different patterns of structural covariance in the two groups were mainly located in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, angular gyrus and hippocampus. LIMITATIONS This study is limited by a small sample and narrow age range of participants. CONCLUSIONS Our findings may provide preliminary evidence for brain morphology alterations in PMS patients and contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of PMS.
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Engman J, Sundström Poromaa I, Moby L, Wikström J, Fredrikson M, Gingnell M. Hormonal Cycle and Contraceptive Effects on Amygdala and Salience Resting-State Networks in Women with Previous Affective Side Effects on the Pill. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:555-563. [PMID: 28741624 PMCID: PMC5770753 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Revised: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms linking ovarian hormones to negative affect are poorly characterized, but important clues may come from the examination of the brain's intrinsic organization. Here, we studied the effects of both the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptives (OCs) on amygdala and salience network resting-state functional connectivity using a double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled design. Hormone levels, depressive symptoms, and resting-state functional connectivity were measured in 35 healthy women (24.9±4.2 years) who had previously experienced OC-related negative affect. All participants were examined in the follicular phase of a baseline cycle and in the third week of the subsequent cycle during treatment with either a combined OC (30 μg ethinyl estradiol/0.15 mg levonorgestrel) or placebo. The latter time point targeted the midluteal phase in placebo users and steady-state ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel concentrations in OC users. Amygdala and salience network connectivity generally increased with both higher endogenous and synthetic hormone levels, although amygdala-parietal cortical connectivity decreased in OC users. When in the luteal phase, the naturally cycling placebo users demonstrated higher connectivity in both networks compared with the women receiving OCs. Our results support a causal link between the exogenous administration of synthetic hormones and amygdala and salience network connectivity. Furthermore, they suggest a similar, potentially stronger, association between the natural hormonal variations across the menstrual cycle and intrinsic network connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Engman
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden,Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Box 1225, SE-751 42 Uppsala, Sweden, Tel: +46 18 471 21 07, Fax: +46 18 471 21 23, E-mail:
| | | | - Lena Moby
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johan Wikström
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mats Fredrikson
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Malin Gingnell
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden,Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Donishi T, Terada M, Kaneoke Y. Effects of gender, digit ratio, and menstrual cycle on intrinsic brain functional connectivity: A whole-brain, voxel-wise exploratory study using simultaneous local and global functional connectivity mapping. Brain Behav 2018; 8:e00890. [PMID: 29568687 PMCID: PMC5853634 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Gender and sex hormones influence brain function, but their effects on functional network organization within the brain are not yet understood. METHODS We investigated the influence of gender, prenatal sex hormones (estimated by the 2D:4D digit ratio), and the menstrual cycle on the intrinsic functional network organization of the brain (as measured by 3T resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI)) using right-handed, age-matched university students (100 males and 100 females). The mean (±SD) age was 20.9 ± 1.5 (range: 18-24) years and 20.8 ± 1.3 (range: 18-24) years for males and females, respectively. Using two parameters derived from the normalized alpha centrality analysis (one for local and another for global connectivity strength), we created mean functional connectivity strength maps. RESULTS There was a significant difference between the male mean map and female mean map in the distributions of network properties in almost all cortical regions and the basal ganglia but not in the medial parietal, limbic, and temporal regions and the thalamus. A comparison between the mean map for the low 2D:4D digit ratio group (indicative of high exposure to testosterone during the prenatal period) and that for the high 2D:4D digit ratio group revealed a significant difference in the network properties of the medial parietal region for males and in the temporal region for females. The menstrual cycle affected network organization in the brain, which varied with the 2D:4D digit ratio. Most of these findings were reproduced with our other datasets created with different preprocessing steps. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that differences in gender, prenatal sex hormone exposure, and the menstrual cycle are useful for understanding the normal brain and investigating the mechanisms underlying the variable prevalence and symptoms of neurological and psychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiro Donishi
- Department of System Neurophysiology Graduate School of Wakayama Medical University Wakayama Japan
| | | | - Yoshiki Kaneoke
- Department of System Neurophysiology Graduate School of Wakayama Medical University Wakayama Japan
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Weis S, Hodgetts S, Hausmann M. Sex differences and menstrual cycle effects in cognitive and sensory resting state networks. Brain Cogn 2017; 131:66-73. [PMID: 29030069 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
It has not yet been established if resting state (RS) connectivity reflects stable characteristics of the brain, or if it is modulated by the psychological and/or physiological state of the participant. Based on research demonstrating sex hormonal effects in task-related brain activity, the present study aimed to investigate corresponding differences in RS networks. RS functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (RS fMRI) was conducted in women during three different menstrual cycle phases, while men underwent three repeated RS fMRI testing sessions. Independent component analysis was used to identify the default mode network (DMN) and an auditory RS network. For the DMN, RS connectivity was stable across testing sessions in men, but varied across the menstrual cycle in women. For the auditory network (AN), retest reliable sex difference was found. Although RS activity in the DMN has been interpreted as trait characteristic of functional brain organization, these findings suggest that RS activity in networks involving frontal areas might be less stable than in sensory-based networks and can dynamically fluctuate. This also implies that some of the previously reported effects of sex hormones on task-related activity might to some extent be mediated by cycle-related fluctuations in RS activity, especially when frontal areas are involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Weis
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Department of Psychology, Durham University, UK; Durham University Neuroimaging Centre (DUNIC), UK.
| | - Sophie Hodgetts
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, UK; Durham University Neuroimaging Centre (DUNIC), UK
| | - Markus Hausmann
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, UK; Durham University Neuroimaging Centre (DUNIC), UK
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Syan SK, Minuzzi L, Costescu D, Smith M, Allega OR, Coote M, Hall GBC, Frey BN. Influence of endogenous estradiol, progesterone, allopregnanolone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on brain resting state functional connectivity across the menstrual cycle. Fertil Steril 2017; 107:1246-1255.e4. [PMID: 28476183 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Revised: 03/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To [1] study brain resting state functional connectivity (Rs-FC) in a well-characterized sample of healthy women in the mid-follicular and late luteal phases of the menstrual cycle; and [2] examine the correlation between endogenous E2, P, allopregnanolone, and DHEAS and patterns of Rs-FC across the menstrual cycle. DESIGN We studied the Rs-FC of the default mode network, salience network, meso-paralimbic network, fronto-parietal network, visual network, and sensorimotor network in the mid-follicular and late luteal phases. Serum levels of E2, P, allopregnanolone, and DHEAS were correlated to patterns of functional connectivity. SETTING University medical center. PATIENT(S) Twenty-five healthy women with regular menstrual cycles. INTERVENTION(S) None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Functional connectivity of key brain networks at rest and correlations of hormones to Rs-FC in the mid-follcuar and late luteal menstrual phases. RESULT(S) There were no differences in Rs-FC between the mid-follicular and late luteal menstrual phases using either independent component analysis or seed-based analysis. However, specific correlations between each hormone and patterns of functional connectivity were found in both menstrual cycle phases. CONCLUSION(S) It seems that the association between female sex hormones and brain Rs-FC is menstrual cycle phase-dependent. Future studies should examine the cognitive and behavioral correlates of this association in regularly cycling women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina K Syan
- MiNDS Neuroscience Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Luciano Minuzzi
- MiNDS Neuroscience Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Mood Disorders Program, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dustin Costescu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mara Smith
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Olivia R Allega
- MiNDS Neuroscience Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marg Coote
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Geoffrey B C Hall
- MiNDS Neuroscience Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Benicio N Frey
- MiNDS Neuroscience Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Mood Disorders Program, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
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Liao H, Duan G, Liu P, Liu Y, Pang Y, Liu H, Tang L, Tao J, Wen D, Li S, Liang L, Deng D. Altered fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuation in premenstrual syndrome: A resting state fMRI study. J Affect Disord 2017; 218:41-48. [PMID: 28458114 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.04.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is becoming highly prevalent among female and is characterized by emotional, physical and behavior symptoms. Previous evidence suggested functional dysregulation of female brain was expected to be involved in the etiology of PMS. The aim of present study was to evaluate the alterations of spontaneous brain activity in PMS patients based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). METHODS 20 PMS patients and 21 healthy controls underwent resting-state fMRI scanning during luteal phase. All participants were asked to complete a prospective daily record of severity of problems (DRSP) questionnaire. RESULTS Compared with healthy controls, the results showed that PMS patients had increased fALFF in bilateral precuneus, left hippocampus and left inferior temporal cortex, and decreased fALFF in bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and cerebellum at luteal phase. Moreover, the DRSP scores of PMS patients were negatively correlated with the mean fALFF in ACC and positively correlated with the fALFF in precuneus. LIMITATIONS (1) the study did not investigate whether or not abnormal brain activity differences between groups in mid-follicular phase, and within-group changes. between phases.(2) it was relatively limited sample size and the participants were young; (3) fALFF could not provide us with more holistic information of brain network;(4) the comparisons of PMS and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) were not involved in the study. CONCLUSIONS The present study shows abnormal spontaneous brain activity in PMS patients revealed by fALFF, which could provide neuroimaging evidence to further improve our understanding of the underlying neural mechanism of PMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Liao
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530023, China
| | - Gaoxiong Duan
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530023, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Life Science Research Center, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710071, China
| | - Yanfei Liu
- Life Science Research Center, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710071, China
| | - Yong Pang
- Department of Acupuncture, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530023, China
| | - Huimei Liu
- Department of Acupuncture, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530023, China
| | - Lijun Tang
- Department of Acupuncture, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530023, China
| | - Jien Tao
- Department of Acupuncture, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530023, China
| | - Danhong Wen
- Department of Teaching, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530023, China
| | - Shasha Li
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530023, China
| | - Lingyan Liang
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530023, China
| | - Demao Deng
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530023, China.
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Huang H, Wang J, Seger C, Lu M, Deng F, Wu X, He Y, Niu C, Wang J, Huang R. Long-term intensive gymnastic training induced changes in intra- and inter-network functional connectivity: an independent component analysis. Brain Struct Funct 2017; 223:131-144. [DOI: 10.1007/s00429-017-1479-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Wörsching J, Padberg F, Helbich K, Hasan A, Koch L, Goerigk S, Stoecklein S, Ertl-Wagner B, Keeser D. Test-retest reliability of prefrontal transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) effects on functional MRI connectivity in healthy subjects. Neuroimage 2017; 155:187-201. [PMID: 28450138 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.04.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) can be used for probing functional brain connectivity and meets general interest as novel therapeutic intervention in psychiatric and neurological disorders. Along with a more extensive use, it is important to understand the interplay between neural systems and stimulation protocols requiring basic methodological work. Here, we examined the test-retest (TRT) characteristics of tDCS-induced modulations in resting-state functional-connectivity MRI (RS fcMRI). Twenty healthy subjects received 20minutes of either active or sham tDCS of the dorsolateral PFC (2mA, anode over F3 and cathode over F4, international 10-20 system), preceded and ensued by a RS fcMRI (10minutes each). All subject underwent three tDCS sessions with one-week intervals in between. Effects of tDCS on RS fcMRI were determined at an individual as well as at a group level using both ROI-based and independent-component analyses (ICA). To evaluate the TRT reliability of individual active-tDCS and sham effects on RS fcMRI, voxel-wise intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) of post-tDCS maps between testing sessions were calculated. For both approaches, results revealed low reliability of RS fcMRI after active tDCS (ICC(2,1) = -0.09 - 0.16). Reliability of RS fcMRI (baselines only) was low to moderate for ROI-derived (ICC(2,1) = 0.13 - 0.50) and low for ICA-derived connectivity (ICC(2,1) = 0.19 - 0.34). Thus, for ROI-based analyses, the distribution of voxel-wise ICC was shifted to lower TRT reliability after active, but not after sham tDCS, for which the distribution was similar to baseline. The intra-individual variation observed here resembles variability of tDCS effects in motor regions and may be one reason why in this study robust tDCS effects at a group level were missing. The data can be used for appropriately designing large scale studies investigating methodological issues such as sources of variability and localisation of tDCS effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Wörsching
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
| | - Frank Padberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Konstantin Helbich
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Alkomiet Hasan
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Lena Koch
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Stephan Goerigk
- Department of Psychological Methodology and Assessment, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Sophia Stoecklein
- Institute for Clinical Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Birgit Ertl-Wagner
- Institute for Clinical Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Keeser
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany; Institute for Clinical Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
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Liao H, Pang Y, Liu P, Liu H, Duan G, Liu Y, Tang L, Tao J, Wen D, Li S, Liang L, Deng D. Abnormal Spontaneous Brain Activity in Women with Premenstrual Syndrome Revealed by Regional Homogeneity. Front Hum Neurosci 2017; 11:62. [PMID: 28243196 PMCID: PMC5303726 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Previous studies have revealed that the etiologies of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refer to menstrual cycle related brain changes. However, its intrinsic neural mechanism is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to assess abnormal spontaneous brain activity and to explicate the intricate neural mechanism of PMS using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI). Materials and Methods: The data of 20 PMS patients (PMS group) and 21 healthy controls (HC group) were analyzed by regional homogeneity (ReHo) method during the late luteal phase of menstrual cycle. In addition, all the participants were asked to complete a daily record of severity of problems (DRSP) questionnaire. Results: Compared with HC group, the results showed that PMS group had increased ReHo mainly in the bilateral precuneus, left inferior temporal cortex (ITC), right inferior frontal cortex (IFC) and left middle frontal cortex (MFC) and decreased ReHo in the right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) at the luteal phase. Moreover, the PMS group had higher DRSP scores, and the DRSP scores positively correlated with ReHo in left MFC and negatively correlated with ReHo in the right ACC. Conclusion: Our results suggest that abnormal spontaneous brain activity is found in PMS patients and the severity of symptom is specifically related to the left MFC and right ACC. The present findings may be beneficial to explicate the intricate neural mechanism of PMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Liao
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine Nanning, China
| | - Yong Pang
- Department of Acupuncture, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine Nanning, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Life Science Research Center, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University Xi'an, China
| | - Huimei Liu
- Department of Acupuncture, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine Nanning, China
| | - Gaoxiong Duan
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine Nanning, China
| | - Yanfei Liu
- Life Science Research Center, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University Xi'an, China
| | - Lijun Tang
- Department of Acupuncture, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine Nanning, China
| | - Jien Tao
- Department of Acupuncture, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine Nanning, China
| | - Danhong Wen
- Department of Teaching, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine Nanning, China
| | - Shasha Li
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine Nanning, China
| | - Lingyan Liang
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine Nanning, China
| | - Demao Deng
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine Nanning, China
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40
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Mak LE, Minuzzi L, MacQueen G, Hall G, Kennedy SH, Milev R. The Default Mode Network in Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Brain Connect 2017; 7:25-33. [PMID: 27917679 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2016.0438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
When the brain is not engaged in goal-directed activities and at rest, there are still measureable patterns of activity. One resting-state network, the default mode network (DMN) is responsible for a self-referential introspective state. There are many factors that influence normal changes in brain activity. The purpose of this review is to summarize differences in DMN functional connectivity in healthy individuals by age, sex, cognitive function, and analysis type to characterize what is "normal." Studies were systematically selected up to August 2016. Two reviewers independently used predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify relevant studies. Studies that provided sufficient information were included in a subsequent voxel-wise meta-analysis. Strength of DMN functional connectivity follows an inverse U-shape, where it is strongest in adulthood and lowest in children and elderly. Cognitive function is positively correlated with DMN functional connectivity. Females exhibit stronger intranetwork connectivity compared with males. Effects of analysis type were inconclusive and more studies need to incorporate complementing techniques. The voxel-wise meta-analysis was only conducted for the age factor. Findings supported an immature network in children compared with adults and a stronger network in adults compared with elderly. This is the first study to review differences of DMN functional connectivity in healthy individuals by age, sex, cognitive function, and analysis type. Findings add to the understanding of normal variance. Furthermore, defining a normal comparative base may allow for the identification of DMN change into pathology. This is important since it may allow for the detection of an intermediate risk phenotype and could serve as a biomarker for treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Mak
- 1 Center for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University , Kingston, Canada .,2 Department of Psychiatry and Providence Care Mental Health Services, Queen's University , Kingston, Canada
| | - Luciano Minuzzi
- 3 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Glenda MacQueen
- 4 University of Calgary Hotchkiss Brain Institute , Calgary, Canada
| | - Geoffrey Hall
- 3 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Sidney H Kennedy
- 5 Krembil Research Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University Health Network, University of Toronto , Toronto, Canada
| | - Roumen Milev
- 1 Center for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University , Kingston, Canada .,2 Department of Psychiatry and Providence Care Mental Health Services, Queen's University , Kingston, Canada
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Pletzer B, Crone JS, Kronbichler M, Kerschbaum H. Menstrual Cycle and Hormonal Contraceptive-Dependent Changes in Intrinsic Connectivity of Resting-State Brain Networks Correspond to Behavioral Changes Due to Hormonal Status. Brain Connect 2016; 6:572-85. [PMID: 27239684 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2015.0407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Menstrual cycle-dependent changes have been reported for a variety of functions, including cognition, attention, emotion, inhibition, and perception. For several of these functions, an effect of hormonal contraceptives has also been discussed. Cognitive, attentional, emotional, inhibitory, and perceptual functions have been linked to distinct intrinsic connectivity networks during the resting state. However, changes in resting-state connectivity across the menstrual cycle phase and due to hormonal contraceptive use have only been investigated in two selected networks and without controlling for the type of hormonal contraceptives. In the present study, we demonstrate menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive-dependent changes in several intrinsic connectivity networks, including networks that have been related to emotion processing, olfaction, audition, vision, coordination, and two lateralized frontoparietal networks related to a variety of cognitive functions. These changes parallel behavioral changes in the functions associated with these networks. Changes in connectivity and changes in behavior occur during the same cycle phases. Furthermore, hormonal contraceptive-dependent effects were observed in the same networks and same target sites as menstrual cycle-related changes and were dependent on the androgenicity of the progestin component contained in the hormonal contraceptive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belinda Pletzer
- 1 Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg , Salzburg, Austria .,2 Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg , Salzburg, Austria
| | - Julia Sophia Crone
- 2 Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg , Salzburg, Austria .,3 Department of Psychology, UCLA , Los Angeles, California
| | - Martin Kronbichler
- 2 Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg , Salzburg, Austria
| | - Hubert Kerschbaum
- 2 Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg , Salzburg, Austria .,4 Department of Cell Biology, University of Salzburg , Salzburg, Austria
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Influence of menstrual cycle phase on resting-state functional connectivity in naturally cycling, cigarette-dependent women. Biol Sex Differ 2016; 7:24. [PMID: 27168932 PMCID: PMC4862059 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-016-0078-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex differences in tobacco-related morbidity and mortality exist, with women experiencing more severe health consequences and greater difficulty with smoking cessation than men. One factor that likely contributes to these sex differences is menstrual cycle phase and associated neural and cognitive changes associated with ovarian hormone fluctuations across the menstrual cycle. Previously, we showed that naturally cycling, cigarette-dependent women in the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle showed greater reward-related neural activity and greater craving during smoking cue exposure. To better understand our results and the observed sex differences in smoking behavior and relapse, we explored potential menstrual cycle phase differences in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in naturally cycling, cigarette-dependent women. Understanding how menstrual cycle phase affects neural processes, cognition, and behavior is a critical step in developing more efficacious treatments and in selecting the best treatment option based on a patient's needs. METHODS Resting-state functional connectivity analyses were used to examine connectivity strength differences between naturally cycling, premenopausal, cigarette-dependent women who were in the follicular phase (FPs; n = 22) and those in the luteal phase (LPs, n = 16) of their menstrual cycle. We also explored associations between connectivity strength and attentional bias to smoking cues. RESULTS Compared with LPs, FPs showed decreased rsFC between the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex, medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC), and ventral striatum. Among FPs, rsFC strength between the dACC and the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), the bilateral dorsal striatum, and the left temporal gyrus was inversely correlated with attentional bias to smoking cues. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to explore menstrual cycle phase differences in rsFC among cigarette-dependent women, and results suggest that FPs show differences in rsFC underlying cognitive control, which could place them at greater risk for continued smoking and relapse. These findings provide new insights toward individualized treatment strategies.
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