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Rizor EJ, Babenko V, Dundon NM, Beverly‐Aylwin R, Stump A, Hayes M, Herschenfeld‐Catalan L, Jacobs EG, Grafton ST. Menstrual cycle-driven hormone concentrations co-fluctuate with white and gray matter architecture changes across the whole brain. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26785. [PMID: 39031470 PMCID: PMC11258887 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Cyclic fluctuations in hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG-axis) hormones exert powerful behavioral, structural, and functional effects through actions on the mammalian central nervous system. Yet, very little is known about how these fluctuations alter the structural nodes and information highways of the human brain. In a study of 30 naturally cycling women, we employed multidimensional diffusion and T1-weighted imaging during three estimated menstrual cycle phases (menses, ovulation, and mid-luteal) to investigate whether HPG-axis hormone concentrations co-fluctuate with alterations in white matter (WM) microstructure, cortical thickness (CT), and brain volume. Across the whole brain, 17β-estradiol and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations were directly proportional to diffusion anisotropy (μFA; 17β-estradiol: β1 = 0.145, highest density interval (HDI) = [0.211, 0.4]; LH: β1 = 0.111, HDI = [0.157, 0.364]), while follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was directly proportional to CT (β1 = 0 .162, HDI = [0.115, 0.678]). Within several individual regions, FSH and progesterone demonstrated opposing relationships with mean diffusivity (Diso) and CT. These regions mainly reside within the temporal and occipital lobes, with functional implications for the limbic and visual systems. Finally, progesterone was associated with increased tissue (β1 = 0.66, HDI = [0.607, 15.845]) and decreased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF; β1 = -0.749, HDI = [-11.604, -0.903]) volumes, with total brain volume remaining unchanged. These results are the first to report simultaneous brain-wide changes in human WM microstructure and CT coinciding with menstrual cycle-driven hormone rhythms. Effects were observed in both classically known HPG-axis receptor-dense regions (medial temporal lobe, prefrontal cortex) and in other regions located across frontal, occipital, temporal, and parietal lobes. Our results suggest that HPG-axis hormone fluctuations may have significant structural impacts across the entire brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J. Rizor
- Department of Psychological & Brain SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
- Institute for Collaborative BiotechnologiesUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Viktoriya Babenko
- Department of Psychological & Brain SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
- BIOPAC Systems, IncGoletaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Neil M. Dundon
- Department of Psychological & Brain SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
- Institute for Collaborative BiotechnologiesUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and PsychosomaticsUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Renee Beverly‐Aylwin
- Department of Psychological & Brain SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Alexandra Stump
- Department of Psychological & Brain SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Margaret Hayes
- Department of Psychological & Brain SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | | | - Emily G. Jacobs
- Department of Psychological & Brain SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
- Neuroscience Research InstituteUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Scott T. Grafton
- Department of Psychological & Brain SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
- Institute for Collaborative BiotechnologiesUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
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Guard M, Labonte AK, Mendoza M, Myers MJ, Duncan M, Drysdale AT, Mukherji E, Rahman T, Tandon M, Kelly JC, Cooke E, Rogers CE, Lenze S, Sylvester CM. Brexanolone Treatment in a Real-World Patient Population: A Case Series and Pilot Feasibility Study of Precision Neuroimaging. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2024; 44:240-249. [PMID: 38551454 PMCID: PMC11177577 DOI: 10.1097/jcp.0000000000001859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND Brexanolone is approved for postpartum depression (PPD) by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Brexanolone has outperformed placebo in clinical trials, but less is known about the efficacy in real-world patients with complex social and medical histories. Furthermore, the impact of brexanolone on large-scale brain systems such as changes in functional connectivity (FC) is unknown. METHODS/PROCEDURES We tracked changes in depressive symptoms across a diverse group of patients who received brexanolone at a large medical center. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores were collected through chart review for 17 patients immediately prior to infusion through approximately 1 year postinfusion. In 2 participants, we performed precision functional neuroimaging (pfMRI), including before and after treatment in 1 patient. pfMRI collects many hours of data in individuals for precision medicine applications and was performed to assess the feasibility of investigating changes in FC with brexanolone. FINDINGS/RESULTS The mean EPDS score immediately postinfusion was significantly lower than the mean preinfusion score (mean change [95% CI]: 10.76 [7.11-14.40], t (15) = 6.29, P < 0.0001). The mean EPDS score stayed significantly lower at 1 week (mean difference [95% CI]: 9.50 [5.23-13.76], t (11) = 4.90, P = 0.0005) and 3 months (mean difference [95% CI]: 9.99 [4.71-15.27], t (6) = 4.63, P = 0.0036) postinfusion. Widespread changes in FC followed infusion, which correlated with EPDS scores. IMPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS Brexanolone is a successful treatment for PPD in the clinical setting. In conjunction with routine clinical care, brexanolone was linked to a reduction in symptoms lasting at least 3 months. pfMRI is feasible in postpartum patients receiving brexanolone and has the potential to elucidate individual-specific mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meg Guard
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alyssa K. Labonte
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Molly Mendoza
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Michael J. Myers
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Maida Duncan
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Andrew T. Drysdale
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Emily Mukherji
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Tahir Rahman
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Mini Tandon
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jeannie C. Kelly
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Emily Cooke
- Department of Pharmacy, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Cynthia E. Rogers
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Shannon Lenze
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Chad M. Sylvester
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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3
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Eng AG, Nirjar U, Elkins AR, Sizemore YJ, Monticello KN, Petersen MK, Miller SA, Barone J, Eisenlohr-Moul TA, Martel MM. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and the menstrual cycle: Theory and evidence. Horm Behav 2024; 158:105466. [PMID: 38039899 PMCID: PMC10872410 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105466] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that exhibits striking sex differences in symptoms, prevalence, and associated problems across development. Etiological factors and mechanisms underlying these sex differences remain one of the most understudied aspects of this disorder. The current paper seeks to provide a novel theoretical framework for understanding this phenomenon by reviewing evidence that females with ADHD may experience a "double whammy" of organizational and activational pubertal hormonal effects. We propose a novel theory of activational effects of cyclical circulating ovarian hormones on ADHD with increasing risk at times of rapid declines in estrogen. These declines may decrease executive function and trait control at two points of the cycle characterized by biphasic affective risk: (1) increases in approach/risk-taking behaviors at mid-cycle (periovulatory) and (2) increases in avoidance/negative affect perimenstrually. Low estrogen and control may then interact with increases in positive and negative affect, respectively, to increase hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms post-ovulation and inattention symptoms perimenstrually. These interactions may be exacerbated by organizational pubertal effects on relatively overdeveloped limbic circuitry and adolescent-specific social pressures magnified in females with ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley G Eng
- University of Kentucky, Department of Psychology, 106-B Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40506-0044, United States of America.
| | - Urveesha Nirjar
- University of Kentucky, Department of Psychology, 106-B Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40506-0044, United States of America
| | - Anjeli R Elkins
- University of Kentucky, Department of Psychology, 106-B Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40506-0044, United States of America
| | - Yancey J Sizemore
- University of Kentucky, Department of Psychology, 106-B Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40506-0044, United States of America
| | - Krystina N Monticello
- University of Kentucky, Department of Psychology, 106-B Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40506-0044, United States of America
| | - Madeline K Petersen
- University of Kentucky, Department of Psychology, 106-B Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40506-0044, United States of America
| | - Sarah A Miller
- University of Kentucky, Department of Psychology, 106-B Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40506-0044, United States of America
| | - Jordan Barone
- University of Illinois Chicago at Chicago College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, 912 S. Wood St, Chicago, IL 60612, United States of America
| | - Tory A Eisenlohr-Moul
- University of Illinois Chicago at Chicago College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, 912 S. Wood St, Chicago, IL 60612, United States of America
| | - Michelle M Martel
- University of Kentucky, Department of Psychology, 106-B Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40506-0044, United States of America
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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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5
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Sikes-Keilp C, Rubinow DR. GABA-ergic Modulators: New Therapeutic Approaches to Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. CNS Drugs 2023; 37:679-693. [PMID: 37542704 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-023-01030-7] [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] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is characterized by the predictable onset of mood and physical symptoms secondary to gonadal steroid fluctuation during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Although menstrual-related affective dysfunction is responsible for considerable functional impairment and reduction in quality of life worldwide, currently approved treatments for PMDD are suboptimal in their effectiveness. Research over the past two decades has suggested that the interaction between allopregnanolone, a neurosteroid derivative of progesterone, and the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system represents an important relationship underlying symptom genesis in reproductive-related mood disorders, including PMDD. The objective of this narrative review is to discuss the plausible link between changes in GABAergic transmission secondary to the fluctuation of allopregnanolone during the luteal phase and mood impairment in susceptible individuals. As part of this discussion, we explore promising findings from early clinical trials of several compounds that stabilize allopregnanolone signaling during the luteal phase, including dutasteride, a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor; isoallopregnanolone, a GABA-A modulating steroid antagonist; and ulipristal acetate, a selective progesterone receptor modulator. We then reflect on the implications of these therapeutic advances, including how they may promote our knowledge of affective regulation more generally. We conclude that these and other studies of PMDD may yield critical insight into the etiopathogenesis of affective disorders, considering that (1) symptoms in PMDD have a predictable onset and offset, allowing for examination of affective state kinetics, and (2) GABAergic interventions in PMDD can be used to better understand the relationship between mood states, network regulation, and the balance between excitatory and inhibitory signaling in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Sikes-Keilp
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina Hospitals, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA.
| | - David R Rubinow
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina Hospitals, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
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6
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Soiné A, Walla P. Sex-Determined Alteration of Frontal Electroencephalographic (EEG) Activity in Social Presence. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13020585. [PMID: 36836942 PMCID: PMC9961853 DOI: 10.3390/life13020585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
This study represents a follow-up event-related potential (ERP) analysis of a prior investigation. The previous results showed that participants had most negative-tending ERPs in the mid-frontal brain region during exposure to neutral emotion pictures (compared to negative and positive pictures) while being accompanied by a significant other person (social presence condition). The present analysis aimed at investigating potential sex differences related to this phenomenon. Female and male participants' brain activity data from the previous study were analyzed separately for one representative mid-frontal electrode location selected on the basis of having the highest significance level. As a result, only female participants showed significantly more negative-tending potentials in response to neutral pictures, compared to both other emotion categories (positive and negative) in the social presence condition. This was not found in male participants. The respective ERP effect was most dominant at 838 ms post stimulus onset, which is slightly later than the effect found in the prior study. However, this result is interpreted as evidence that the general effect from the prior study can be understood as a largely female phenomenon. In line with the prior study, the present results are interpreted as a predominantly female activation in the mid-frontal brain region in response to neutral picture stimuli while being accompanied by a significant other person (social presence condition). Although only speculative, this would align with previous studies demonstrating sex-related hormonal and structural differences in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). In general, ACC activation has been associated with an integrative weighting function in ambiguous social settings, which makes sense given the ambiguous nature of neutral pictures in combination with a social presence condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Soiné
- CanBeLab, Psychology Department, Webster Vienna Private University, Praterstrasse 23, 1020 Vienna, Austria
- Medical Neurosciences, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Walla
- Faculty of Psychology, Freud CanBeLab, Sigmund Freud University, Sigmund Freud Platz 1, 1020 Vienna, Austria
- Faculty of Medicine, Sigmund Freud University, Sigmund Freud Platz 3, 1020 Vienna, Austria
- School of Psychology, Newcastle University, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
- Correspondence:
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Hicks TH, Magalhães TNC, Ballard HK, Jackson TB, Cox SJ, Bernard JA. Network segregation in aging females and evaluation of the impact of sex steroid hormones. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1059091. [PMID: 36816502 PMCID: PMC9929548 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1059091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Males and females show differential patterns in connectivity in resting-state networks (RSNs) during normal aging, from early adulthood to late middle age. Age-related differences in network integration (effectiveness of specialized communication at the global network level) and segregation (functional specialization at the local level of specific brain regions) may also differ by sex. These differences may be due at least in part to endogenous hormonal fluctuation, such as that which occurs in females during midlife with the transition to menopause when levels of estrogens and progesterone drop markedly. A limited number of studies that have investigated sex differences in the action of steroid hormones in brain networks. Here we investigated how sex steroid hormones relate to age-network relationships in both males and females, with a focus on network segregation. Females displayed a significant quadratic relationship between age and network segregation for the cerebellar-basal ganglia and salience networks. In both cases, segregation was still increasing through adulthood, highest in midlife, and with a downturn thereafter. However, there were no significant relationships between sex steroid hormone levels and network segregation levels in females, and they did not exhibit significant associations between progesterone or 17β-estradiol and network segregation. Patterns of connectivity between the cerebellum and basal ganglia have been associated with cognitive performance and self-reported balance confidence in older adults. Together, these findings suggest that network segregation patterns with age in females vary by network, and that sex steroid hormones are not associated with this measure of connectivity in this cross-sectional analysis. Though this is a null effect, it remains critical for understanding the extent to which hormones relate to brain network architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracey H. Hicks
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States,Tracey H. Hicks,
| | - Thamires N. C. Magalhães
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States,*Correspondence: Thamires N. C. Magalhães,
| | - Hannah K. Ballard
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - T. Bryan Jackson
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Sydney J. Cox
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Jessica A. Bernard
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States,Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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8
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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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9
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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: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [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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10
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Brain Reactions to Opening and Closing the Eyes: Salivary Cortisol and Functional Connectivity. Brain Topogr 2022; 35:375-397. [PMID: 35666364 PMCID: PMC9334428 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-022-00897-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
This study empirically assessed the strength and duration of short-term effects induced by brain reactions to closing/opening the eyes on a few well-known resting-state networks. We also examined the association between these reactions and subjects’ cortisol levels. A total of 55 young adults underwent 8-min resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) scans under 4-min eyes-closed and 4-min eyes-open conditions. Saliva samples were collected from 25 of the 55 subjects before and after the fMRI sessions and assayed for cortisol levels. Our empirical results indicate that when the subjects were relaxed with their eyes closed, the effect of opening the eyes on conventional resting-state networks (e.g., default-mode, frontal-parietal, and saliency networks) lasted for roughly 60-s, during which we observed a short-term increase in activity in rs-fMRI time courses. Moreover, brain reactions to opening the eyes had a pronounced effect on time courses in the temporo-parietal lobes and limbic structures, both of which presented a prolonged decrease in activity. After controlling for demographic factors, we observed a significantly positive correlation between pre-scan cortisol levels and connectivity in the limbic structures under both conditions. Under the eyes-closed condition, the temporo-parietal lobes presented significant connectivity to limbic structures and a significantly positive correlation with pre-scan cortisol levels. Future research on rs-fMRI could consider the eyes-closed condition when probing resting-state connectivity and its neuroendocrine correlates, such as cortisol levels. It also appears that abrupt instructions to open the eyes while the subject is resting quietly with eyes closed could be used to probe brain reactivity to aversive stimuli in the ventral hippocampus and other limbic structures.
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11
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Spurny-Dworak B, Handschuh P, Spies M, Kaufmann U, Seiger R, Klöbl M, Konadu ME, Reed MB, Ritter V, Baldinger-Melich P, Bogner W, Kranz GS, Lanzenberger R. Effects of sex hormones on brain GABA and glutamate levels in a cis- and transgender cohort. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 138:105683. [PMID: 35176535 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Sex hormones affect the GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmitter system as demonstrated in animal studies. However, human research has mostly been correlational in nature. Here, we aimed at substantiating causal interpretations of the interaction between sex hormones and neurotransmitter function by using magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (MRSI) to study the effect of gender-affirming hormone treatment (GHT) in transgender individuals. Fifteen trans men (TM) with a DSM-5 diagnosis of gender dysphoria, undergoing GHT, and 15 age-matched cisgender women (CW), receiving no therapy, underwent MRSI before and after at least 12 weeks. Additionally, sex differences in neurotransmitter levels were evaluated in an independent sample of 80 cisgender men and 79 cisgender women. Mean GABA+ (combination of GABA and macromolecules) and Glx (combination of glutamate and glutamine) ratios to total creatine (GABA+/tCr, Glx/tCr) were calculated in five predefined regions-of-interest (hippocampus, insula, pallidum, putamen and thalamus). Linear mixed models analysis revealed a significant measurement by gender identity effect (pcorr. = 0.048) for GABA+/tCr ratios in the hippocampus, with the TM cohort showing decreased GABA+/tCr levels after GHT compared to CW. Moreover, analysis of covariance showed a significant sex difference in insula GABA+/tCr ratios (pcorr. = 0.049), indicating elevated GABA levels in cisgender women compared to cisgender men. Our study demonstrates GHT treatment-induced GABA+/tCr reductions in the hippocampus, indicating hormone receptor activation on GABAergic cells and testosterone-induced neuroplastic processes within the hippocampus. Moreover, elevated GABA levels in the female compared to the male insula highlight the importance of including sex as factor in future MRS studies. DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT: Due to data protection laws processed data is available from the authors upon reasonable request. Please contact rupert.lanzenberger@meduniwien.ac.at with any questions or requests.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Spurny-Dworak
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - P Handschuh
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - M Spies
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - U Kaufmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - R Seiger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - M Klöbl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - M E Konadu
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - M B Reed
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - V Ritter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - P Baldinger-Melich
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - W Bogner
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, High Field MR Centre, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - G S Kranz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China.
| | - R Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
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12
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Sikes-Keilp C, Rubinow DR. In search of sex-related mediators of affective illness. Biol Sex Differ 2021; 12:55. [PMID: 34663459 PMCID: PMC8524875 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-021-00400-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in the rates of affective disorders have been recognized for decades. Studies of physiologic sex-related differences in animals and humans, however, have generally yielded little in terms of explaining these differences. Furthermore, the significance of these findings is difficult to interpret given the dynamic, integrative, and highly context-dependent nature of human physiology. In this article, we provide an overview of the current literature on sex differences as they relate to mood disorders, organizing existing findings into five levels at which sex differences conceivably influence physiology relevant to affective states. These levels include the following: brain structure, network connectivity, signal transduction, transcription/translation, and epigenesis. We then evaluate the importance and limitations of this body of work, as well as offer perspectives on the future of research into sex differences. In creating this overview, we attempt to bring perspective to a body of research that is complex, poorly synthesized, and far from complete, as well as provide a theoretical framework for thinking about the role that sex differences ultimately play in affective regulation. Despite the overall gaps regarding both the underlying pathogenesis of affective illness and the role of sex-related factors in the development of affective disorders, it is evident that sex should be considered as an important contributor to alterations in neural function giving rise to susceptibility to and expression of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David R Rubinow
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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13
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Walsh MJM, Wallace GL, Gallegos SM, Braden BB. Brain-based sex differences in autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan: A systematic review of structural MRI, fMRI, and DTI findings. Neuroimage Clin 2021; 31:102719. [PMID: 34153690 PMCID: PMC8233229 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Females with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been long overlooked in neuroscience research, but emerging evidence suggests they show distinct phenotypic trajectories and age-related brain differences. Sex-related biological factors (e.g., hormones, genes) may play a role in ASD etiology and have been shown to influence neurodevelopmental trajectories. Thus, a lifespan approach is warranted to understand brain-based sex differences in ASD. This systematic review on MRI-based sex differences in ASD was conducted to elucidate variations across the lifespan and inform biomarker discovery of ASD in females We identified articles through two database searches. Fifty studies met criteria and underwent integrative review. We found that regions expressing replicable sex-by-diagnosis differences across studies overlapped with regions showing sex differences in neurotypical cohorts. Furthermore, studies investigating age-related brain differences across a broad age-span suggest distinct neurodevelopmental patterns in females with ASD. Qualitative comparison across youth and adult studies also supported this hypothesis. However, many studies collapsed across age, which may mask differences. Furthermore, accumulating evidence supports the female protective effect in ASD, although only one study examined brain circuits implicated in "protection." When synthesized with the broader literature, brain-based sex differences in ASD may come from various sources, including genetic and endocrine processes involved in brain "masculinization" and "feminization" across early development, puberty, and other lifespan windows of hormonal transition. Furthermore, sex-related biology may interact with peripheral processes, in particular the stress axis and brain arousal system, to produce distinct neurodevelopmental patterns in males and females with ASD. Future research on neuroimaging-based sex differences in ASD would benefit from a lifespan approach in well-controlled and multivariate studies. Possible relationships between behavior, sex hormones, and brain development in ASD remain largely unexamined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J M Walsh
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, 975 S. Myrtle Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Gregory L Wallace
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, The George Washington University, 2115 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA.
| | - Stephen M Gallegos
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, 975 S. Myrtle Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - B Blair Braden
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, 975 S. Myrtle Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA.
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14
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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: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [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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15
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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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16
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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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17
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Riddle J, Ahn S, McPherson T, Girdler S, Frohlich F. Progesterone modulates theta oscillations in the frontal-parietal network. Psychophysiology 2020; 57:e13632. [PMID: 33400260 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The neuroactive metabolites of the steroid hormones progesterone (P4) and testosterone (T) are GABAergic modulators that influence cognition, yet, the specific effect of P4 and T on brain network activity remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated if a fundamental oscillatory network activity pattern, often related to cognitive control, frontal midline theta (FMT) oscillations, are modulated by steroids hormones, P4 and T. We measured the concentration of P4 and T using salivary enzyme immunoassay and FMT oscillations using high-density electroencephalography (EEG) during eyes-open resting-state in 55 healthy women and men. Electrical brain activity was analyzed using Fourier analysis, aperiodic signal fitting, and beamformer source localization. Steroid hormone concentrations and biological sex were used as predictors for scalp and source-estimated amplitude of theta oscillations. Elevated concentrations of P4 predicted increased amplitude of FMT oscillations across both sexes, and no relationship was found with T. The positive correlation with P4 was specific to the frontal midline electrodes and survived correction for the background aperiodic signal of the brain. Using source localization, FMT oscillations were localized to the frontal-parietal network (FPN). Additionally, theta amplitude within the FPN, but not the default mode network, positively correlated with P4 concentration. Our results suggest that P4 concentration modulates brain activity via upregulation of theta oscillations in the FPN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Riddle
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Center for Women's Mood Disorders, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sangtae Ahn
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,School of Electronic Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Trevor McPherson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Susan Girdler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Center for Women's Mood Disorders, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Flavio Frohlich
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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18
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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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19
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Duncan NW, Hsu TY, Cheng PZ, Wang HY, Lee HC, Lane TJ. Intrinsic activity temporal structure reactivity to behavioural state change is correlated with depressive symptoms. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 52:4840-4850. [PMID: 32524682 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The brain's intrinsic activity plays a fundamental role in its function. In normal conditions this activity is responsive to behavioural context, changing as an individual switches between directed tasks and task-free conditions. A key feature of such changes is the movement of the brain between corresponding critical and sub-critical states, with these dynamics supporting efficient cognitive processing. Breakdowns in processing efficiency can occur, however, in brain disorders such as depression. It was therefore hypothesised that depressive symptoms would be related to reduced intrinsic activity responsiveness to changes in behavioural state. This was tested in a mixed group of major depressive disorder patients (n = 26) and healthy participants (n = 37) by measuring intrinsic EEG activity temporal structure, quantified with detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA), in eyes-closed (EC) and eyes-open task-free states and contrasting between the conditions. The degree to which DFA values changed between the states was found to correlate negatively with depressive symptoms. DFA values did not differ between states in those with higher symptom levels, meaning that the brain remained in a less flexible sub-critical condition. This sub-critical condition in the EC state was further found to correlate with levels of maladaptive rumination. This may reflect a general cognitive inflexibility resulting from a lack in neural activity reactivity that may predispose people to overly engage in self-directed attention. These results provide an initial link between intrinsic activity reactivity and psychological features found in psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niall W Duncan
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Brain and Consciousness Research Centre, TMU Shuang-Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Yu Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Brain and Consciousness Research Centre, TMU Shuang-Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Paul Z Cheng
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Brain and Consciousness Research Centre, TMU Shuang-Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Yi Wang
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Brain and Consciousness Research Centre, TMU Shuang-Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Chien Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Psychiatry, TMU Shuang-Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Timothy J Lane
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Brain and Consciousness Research Centre, TMU Shuang-Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.,College of Humanities and Social Science, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
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20
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Begdache L, Kianmehr H, Sabounchi N, Marszalek A, Dolma N. Common and differential associations between levels of alcohol drinking, gender-specific neurobehaviors and mental distress in college students. Trends Neurosci Educ 2020; 19:100129. [PMID: 32475479 DOI: 10.1016/j.tine.2020.100129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Binge drinking is associated with poor academic behaviors and performance. Excessive alcohol drinking induces molecular changes and neurobehaviors that support use of other substances and alter cognitive functions. The purpose of this study was to compare neurobehaviors and academic effort among college students with low alcohol use with those of high alcohol consumption and build conceptual models that represent the integration of the different variables. METHOD College students from several U.S colleges were assessed through an anonymous online survey for alcohol use, academic performance, lifestyle factors and mental distress. RESULTS Our results depicted common neurobehaviors and differential responses to high alcohol use. CONCLUSION The common responses in young men and women with high alcohol use are reflective of a hyperactive limbic system. The different responses involve cognitive aptitudes, typically controlled by cortical regions and affected by levels of brain connectivity known to be dissimilar between men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Begdache
- Department of Health and Wellness Studies, Binghamton University, POB 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, United States.
| | - Hamed Kianmehr
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy University of Florida.
| | - Nasim Sabounchi
- Department of Health Policy and Management, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, United States
| | - Anna Marszalek
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, United States
| | - Ngawang Dolma
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, United States
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21
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Kranz GS, Zhang BBB, Handschuh P, Ritter V, Lanzenberger R. Gender-affirming hormone treatment - A unique approach to study the effects of sex hormones on brain structure and function. Cortex 2020; 129:68-79. [PMID: 32438011 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Investigating the effects of the gender-affirming hormone treatment of transgender people using neuroimaging provides a unique opportunity to study the impact of high dosages of sex hormones on human brain structure and function. This line of research is of relevance from a basic neuroscientific as well as from a psychiatric viewpoint. Prevalence rates, etiopathology, and disease course of many psychiatric disorders exhibit sex differences which are linked to differences in sex hormone levels. Here, we review recent neuroimaging studies from others and our group that investigate the effects of gender-affirming hormone treatment in a longitudinal design utilizing structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. Studies point to a general anabolic and anticatabolic effect of testosterone on grey and white matter structure, whereas estradiol and antiandrogen treatment seems to have partly opposite effects. Moreover, preliminary research indicates that gender-affirming hormone treatment influences serotonergic neurotransmission, a finding that is especially interesting for psychiatry. A clear picture of a hormonal influence on brain activity has yet to emerge. In conclusion, the available evidence reviewed here clearly indicates that sex hormone applications influence brain structure and function in the adult human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg S Kranz
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
| | - Bella B B Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Patricia Handschuh
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Vera Ritter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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22
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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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23
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Lai W, Li X, Zhu H, Zhu X, Tan H, Feng P, Chen L, Luo C. Plasma luteinizing hormone level affects the brain activity of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 112:104535. [PMID: 31841986 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.104535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cognitive function has been reported to be impaired in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study aimed to investigate the effect of PCOS on brain activity and explore the relationship between brain activity and sex hormone levels in women with PCOS (WPCOS). METHODS Twenty-one women aged 18-45 years old with new-diagnosed PCOS were enrolled. Plasma levels of six sex hormones including luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were tested during the 2-5 days of their menstrual periods. Twenty-seven healthy controls (HC) were recruited. Every subject underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) of the whole brain was evaluated followed by the functional connectivity (FC) analysis. Finally, the correlation between the ALFF, FC of the significant areas and the plasma hormone levels were analyzed. RESULTS The patients showed increased ALFF value in the left inferior temporal gyrus (ITG.L) and decreased ALFF value in the left inferior occipital gyrus (IOG.L) as well as the superior frontal gyrus (SFG.R, P < 0.005). For the FC analysis, patients showed decreased FC in SFG.R with the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG.R, P < 0.05). The FC between SFG.R and MFG.R was negatively correlated with LH level (R=-0.594, P = 0.005) and with the LH/FSH ratio (R=-0.521, P = 0.015). CONCLUSION PCOS can induce changes in activities of brain regions responsible for visuospatial working memory, face processing and episodic memory. The reduced functional connectivity within the right frontal lobe is related with the high LH level in WPCOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanlin Lai
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, PR China
| | - Xuan Li
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, Center for Information in Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, PR China
| | - Huili Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, No. 20, Section 3, Renmin South Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, No. 20, Section 3, Renmin South Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, PR China
| | - Xi Zhu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, PR China
| | - Huiwen Tan
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, PR China
| | - Peimin Feng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610075, PR China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, PR China.
| | - Cheng Luo
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, Center for Information in Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, PR China.
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24
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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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25
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Altered Brain Structure and Functional Connectivity Associated with Pubertal Hormones in Girls with Precocious Puberty. Neural Plast 2019; 2019:1465632. [PMID: 31933625 PMCID: PMC6942889 DOI: 10.1155/2019/1465632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pubertal hormones play an important role in brain and psychosocial development. However, the role of abnormal HPG axis states in altering brain function and structure remains unclear. The present study is aimed at determining whether there were significant differences in gray matter volume (GMV) and resting state (RS) functional connectivity (FC) patterns in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) and peripheral precocious puberty (PPP). We further explored the correlation between these differences and serum pubertal hormone levels. To assess this, we recruited 29 idiopathic CPP girls and 38 age-matched PPP girls. A gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test was performed, and pubertal hormone levels (including luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), prolactin, and cortisol) were assessed. All subjects underwent multimodal magnetic resonance imaging of brain structure and function. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis was paired with seed-to-voxel whole-brain RS-FC analysis to calculate the GMV and RS-FC in idiopathic CPP and PPP girls. Correlation analyses were used to assess the effects of pubertal hormones on brain regions with structural and functional differences between the groups. We found that girls with CPP exhibited decreased GMV in the left insula and left fusiform gyrus, while connectivity between the left and right insula and the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG), as well as the left fusiform gyrus and right amygdala, was reduced in girls with CPP. Furthermore, the GMV of the left insula and peak FSH levels were negatively correlated while higher basal and peak E2 levels were associated with increased bilateral insula RS-FC. These findings suggest that premature activation of the HPG axis and pubertal hormone fluctuations alter brain structure and function involved in the cognitive and emotional process in early childhood. These findings provide vital insights into the early pathophysiology of idiopathic CPP.
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26
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Li M, Zhao C, Xie S, Liu X, Zhao Q, Zhang Z, Gong G. Effects of hypogonadism on brain development during adolescence in girls with Turner syndrome. Hum Brain Mapp 2019; 40:4901-4911. [PMID: 31389646 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Gonadal steroids play an important role in brain development, particularly during puberty. Girls with Turner syndrome (TS), a genetic disorder characterized by the absence of all or part of the second X chromosome, mostly present a loss of ovarian function and estrogen deficiency, as well as neuroanatomical abnormalities. However, few studies have attempted to isolate the indirect effects of hormones from the direct genetic effects of X chromosome insufficiency. Brain structural (i.e., gray matter [GM] morphology and white matter [WM] connectivity) and functional phenotypes (i.e., resting-state functional measures) were investigated in 23 adolescent girls with TS using multimodal MRI to assess the role of hypogonadism in brain development in TS. Specifically, all girls with TS were divided into a hormonally subnormal group and an abnormal subgroup according to their serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, with the karyotypes approximately matched between the two groups. Statistical analyses revealed significant effects of the "group-by-age" interaction on GM volume around the left medial orbitofrontal cortex and WM diffusion parameters around the bilateral corticospinal tract, anterior thalamic radiation, left superior longitudinal fasciculus, and cingulum bundle, but no significant "group-by-age" or group differences were observed in resting-state functional measures. Based on these findings, estrogen deficiency has a nontrivial impact on the development of the brain structure during adolescence in girls with TS. Our present study provides novel insights into the mechanism by which hypogonadism influences brain development during adolescence in girls with TS, and highlights the important role of estrogen replacement therapy in treating TS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Li
- Department of Pediatrics, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Chenxi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning &IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Sheng Xie
- Department of Radiology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiwei Liu
- Department of Radiology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qiuling Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhixin Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Gaolang Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning &IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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27
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Schneider MA, Spritzer PM, Minuzzi L, Frey BN, Syan SK, Fighera TM, Schwarz K, Costa ÂB, da Silva DC, Garcia CCG, Fontanari AMV, Real AG, Anes M, Castan JU, Cunegatto FR, Lobato MIR. Effects of Estradiol Therapy on Resting-State Functional Connectivity of Transgender Women After Gender-Affirming Related Gonadectomy. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:817. [PMID: 31440128 PMCID: PMC6692765 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
An extreme incongruence between sex and gender identity leads individuals with gender dysphoria (GD) to seek cross-sex hormone therapy (CSHT), and gender-affirming surgery (GAS). Although few studies have investigated the effects of CSHT on the brain prior to GAS, no studies in the extant literature have evaluated its impact during hypogonadism in post-GAS individuals. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effects of estradiol on resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) of the sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and basal ganglia following surgical hypogonadism. Eighteen post-GAS (male-to-female) participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and neuropsychiatric and hormonal assessment at two time points (t1, hormonal washout; t2, CSHT reintroduction). Based on the literature, the thalamus was selected as a seed, while the SMC and the dorsolateral striatum were targets for seed-based functional connectivity (sbFC). A second sbFC investigation consisted of a whole-brain voxel exploratory analysis again using the thalamus as a seed. A final complementary data-driven approach using multivoxel pattern analysis (MVPA) was conducted to identify a potential seed for further sbFC analyses. An increase in the rs-FC between the left thalamus and the left SCM/putamen followed CSHT. MVPA identified a cluster within the subcallosal cortex (SubCalC) representing the highest variation in peak activation between time points. Setting the SubCalC as a seed, whole-brain analysis showed a decoupling between the SubCalC and the medial frontal cortex during CSHT. These results indicate that CSHT with estradiol post-GAS, modulates rs-FC in regions engaged in cognitive, emotional, and sensorimotor processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiko A Schneider
- Gender Identity Program (PROTIG), Psychiatric Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Mood Disorders Program, Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Poli M Spritzer
- Gender Identity Program (PROTIG), Psychiatric Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Physiology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Division of Endocrinoloy, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Luciano Minuzzi
- Mood Disorders Program, Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Benicio N Frey
- Mood Disorders Program, Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Sabrina K Syan
- Mood Disorders Program, Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Tayane M Fighera
- Gender Identity Program (PROTIG), Psychiatric Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Division of Endocrinoloy, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Karine Schwarz
- Gender Identity Program (PROTIG), Psychiatric Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Ângelo B Costa
- Graduate Program in Psychology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Dhiordan C da Silva
- Gender Identity Program (PROTIG), Psychiatric Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Post-Graduation Program, Universidade Federal do Rio Grand do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Cláudia C G Garcia
- Gender Identity Program (PROTIG), Psychiatric Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Post-Graduation Program, Universidade Federal do Rio Grand do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Anna M V Fontanari
- Gender Identity Program (PROTIG), Psychiatric Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Post-Graduation Program, Universidade Federal do Rio Grand do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - André G Real
- Gender Identity Program (PROTIG), Psychiatric Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Post-Graduation Program, Universidade Federal do Rio Grand do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Maurício Anes
- Medical Physics and Radiation Protection Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Juliana U Castan
- Gender Identity Program (PROTIG), Psychiatric Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Psychology Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Maria I R Lobato
- Gender Identity Program (PROTIG), Psychiatric Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Post-Graduation Program, Universidade Federal do Rio Grand do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Psychiatric and Forensic Medical Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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28
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Abstract
Psychiatric symptoms that coincide with reproductive transitions are related to changes in sex steroids, but studies show that this relationship is governed by individual women's vulnerability to change rather than by differences in level. There is growing interest in the role of allopregnanolone (ALLO), a 3-α reduced metabolite of progesterone and a strong allosteric modulator of the GABAA receptor, in such symptoms, with enough evidence now across various times of reproductive transition to offer an overview of the role of this hormone in reproductive psychiatry. This review offers a brief overview, focusing on literature of the last 3 years, of the relationship between allopregnanolone and mood at menarche; in the menstrual cycle; in the peripartum; and in the menopausal transition. ALLO dysregulation is identified in all of these transitions and found to be associated with mood symptoms, although evidence of its exact role; its relationship to other systems; and directionality is not consistent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine McEvoy
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Women’s Mood Disorders Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lauren M. Osborne
- Department of of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Women’s Mood Disorders Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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29
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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: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [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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30
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Sundström Poromaa I, Comasco E, Bäckström T, Bixo M, Jensen P, Frokjaer VG. Negative Association Between Allopregnanolone and Cerebral Serotonin Transporter Binding in Healthy Women of Fertile Age. Front Psychol 2019; 9:2767. [PMID: 30687199 PMCID: PMC6336902 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Allopregnanolone is a metabolite of the sex hormone progesterone, with suggested relevance for female mood disorders. While allopregnanolone and serotonin are known to influence psychological well-being, the molecular and psychological specifics of their relationship are to date poorly understood, especially in women of fertile age who experience regular fluctuations of progesterone across the menstrual cycle. Availability of serotonin in the synaptic cleft is regulated by the serotonin transporter (SERT), which can be imaged in the living human brain by use of positron emission tomography (PET) and the radiotracer [11C]DASB. To evaluate sex-specific allopregnanolone-SERT interactions, the present study investigated the relationship between cerebral SERT availability, serum allopregnanolone levels and psychological well-being in women of fertile age. Brain imaging data, self-reported symptoms of mental distress and emotion regulation, and biobank material from ninety healthy women were available from the Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging (CIMBI) database. Age, BMI, and daylight minutes were included as covariates in the analyses and SERT genotype (5-HTTLPR) was considered a potential confounder. Lower serum allopregnanolone levels were associated with higher SERT binding in the prefrontal cortex. Moreover, allopregnanolone levels were negatively associated with measures of alertness, although this finding was not mediated by prefrontal cortex SERT binding. These findings suggest a link between the typical psychological well-being experienced in the follicular phase when allopregnanolone levels are low and higher SERT in the prefrontal cortex, a region for higher cognitive functions and top-down regulation of emotions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erika Comasco
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Torbjörn Bäckström
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Marie Bixo
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Peter Jensen
- Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vibe G Frokjaer
- Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Mental Health Services Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
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31
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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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32
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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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33
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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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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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Syan SK, Minuzzi L, Smith M, Costescu D, Allega OR, Hall GBC, Frey BN. Brain Structure and Function in Women with Comorbid Bipolar and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. Front Psychiatry 2017; 8:301. [PMID: 29367847 PMCID: PMC5768056 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hormonal fluctuations associated with female reproductive life events may precipitate or worsen affective episodes in women with bipolar disorder (BD). Previous studies have shown that women with BD report higher rates of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) than controls. Further, bipolar women who report premenstrual worsening of mood display a worse course of their bipolar illness. Despite this, the neural correlates of comorbid BD and PMDD have not been investigated. METHODOLOGY Eighty-five [CTRL, n = 25; PMDD, n = 20; BD, n = 21; BD with comorbid PMDD (BDPMDD), n = 19], regularly cycling women, not on hormonal contraception, underwent two MRI scans: during their mid-follicular and late luteal menstrual phases. We investigated resting-state functional connectivity (Rs-FC), cortical thickness, and subcortical volumes of brain regions associated with the pathophysiology of BD and PMDD between groups, in the mid-follicular and late luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. All BD subjects were euthymic for at least 2 months prior to study entry. RESULTS Women in the BDPMDD group displayed greater disruption in biological rhythms and more subthreshold depressive and anxious symptoms through the menstrual cycle compared to other groups. Rs-FC was increased between the L-hippocampus and R-frontal cortex and decreased between the R-hippocampus and R-premotor cortex in BDPMDD vs. BD (FDR-corrected, p < 0.05). Cortical thickness analysis revealed decreased cortical thickness of the L-pericalcarine, L-superior parietal, R-middle temporal, R-rostral middle frontal, and L-superior frontal, as well as increased cortical thickness of the L-superior temporal gyri in BDPMDD compared to BD. We also found increased left-caudate volume in BDPMDD vs. BD (pCORR < 0.05). CONCLUSION Women with BD and comorbid PMDD display a distinct clinical and neurobiological phenotype of BD, which suggests differential sensitivity to endogenous hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina K Syan
- MiNDS Neuroscience Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Luciano Minuzzi
- Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Mood Disorders Program, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Mara Smith
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Dustin Costescu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Olivia R Allega
- Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Geoffrey B C Hall
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Benicio N Frey
- Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Mood Disorders Program, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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