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Kirk PA, Holmes AJ, Robinson OJ. Anxiety Shapes Amygdala-Prefrontal Dynamics During Movie Watching. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 3:409-417. [PMID: 37519469 PMCID: PMC10382705 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2022.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A well-characterized amygdala-dorsomedial prefrontal circuit is thought to be crucial for threat vigilance during anxiety. However, engagement of this circuitry within relatively naturalistic paradigms remains unresolved. Methods Using an open functional magnetic resonance imaging dataset (Cambridge Centre for Ageing Neuroscience; n = 630), we sought to investigate whether anxiety correlates with dynamic connectivity between the amygdala and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex during movie watching. Results Using an intersubject representational similarity approach, we saw no effect of anxiety when comparing pairwise similarities of dynamic connectivity across the entire movie. However, preregistered analyses demonstrated a relationship between anxiety, amygdala-prefrontal dynamics, and anxiogenic features of the movie (canonical suspense ratings). Our results indicated that amygdala-prefrontal circuitry was modulated by suspense in low-anxiety individuals but was less sensitive to suspense in high-anxiety individuals. We suggest that this could also be related to slowed habituation or amplified anticipation. Moreover, a measure of threat-relevant attentional bias (accuracy/reaction time to fearful faces) demonstrated an association with connectivity and suspense. Conclusions Overall, this study demonstrated the presence of anxiety-relevant differences in connectivity during movie watching, varying with anxiogenic features of the movie. Mechanistically, exactly how and when these differences arise remains an opportunity for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A. Kirk
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Experimental Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Avram J. Holmes
- Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Oliver J. Robinson
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Stout DM, Simmons AN, Nievergelt CM, Minassian A, Biswas N, Maihofer AX, Risbrough VB, Baker DG. Deriving psychiatric symptom-based biomarkers from multivariate relationships between psychophysiological and biochemical measures. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:2252-2260. [PMID: 35347268 PMCID: PMC9630445 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01303-7] [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: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Identification of biomarkers for psychiatric disorders remains very challenging due to substantial symptom heterogeneity and diagnostic comorbidity, limiting the ability to map symptoms to underlying neurobiology. Dimensional symptom clusters, such as anhedonia, hyperarousal, etc., are complex and arise due to interactions of a multitude of complex biological relationships. The primary aim of the current investigation was to use multi-set canonical correlation analysis (mCCA) to derive biomarkers (biochemical, physiological) linked to dimensional symptoms across the anxiety and depressive spectrum. Active-duty service members (N = 2,592) completed standardized depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress questionnaires and several psychophysiological and biochemical assays. Using this approach, we identified two phenotype associations between distinct physiological and biological phenotypes. One was characterized by symptoms of dysphoric arousal (anhedonia, anxiety, hypervigilance) which was associated with low blood pressure and startle reactivity. This finding is in line with previous studies suggesting blunted physiological reactivity is associated with subpopulations endorsing anxiety with comorbid depressive features. A second phenotype of anxious fatigue (high anxiety and reexperiencing/avoidance symptoms coupled with fatigue) was associated with elevated blood levels of norepinephrine and the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein in conjunction with high blood pressure. This second phenotype may describe populations in which inflammation and high sympathetic outflow might contribute to anxious fatigue. Overall, these findings support the growing consensus that distinct neuropsychiatric symptom patterns are associated with differential physiological and blood-based biological profiles and highlight the potential of mCCA to reveal important psychiatric symptom biomarkers from several psychophysiological and biochemical measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Stout
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, 92161, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| | - Alan N Simmons
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, 92161, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Caroline M Nievergelt
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, 92161, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Arpi Minassian
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, 92161, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Nilima Biswas
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Adam X Maihofer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Victoria B Risbrough
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, 92161, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Dewleen G Baker
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, 92161, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
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Bradley MM, Sambuco N. Emotional Memory and Amygdala Activation. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:896285. [PMID: 35769628 PMCID: PMC9234481 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.896285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M Bradley
- Center for the Study of Emotion and Attention, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Nicola Sambuco
- Center for the Study of Emotion and Attention, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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Individual Patterns and Temporal Trajectories of Changes in Fear and Pain during Exposure In Vivo: A Multiple Single-Case Experimental Design in Patients with Chronic Pain. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11051360. [PMID: 35268453 PMCID: PMC8911417 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11051360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure in vivo (EXP) is an effective treatment to reduce pain-related fear and disability in chronic pain populations. Yet, it remains unclear how reductions in fear and pain relate to each other. This single-case experimental design study attempted to identify patterns in the individual responses to EXP and to unravel temporal trajectories of fear and pain. Daily diaries were completed before, during and after EXP. Multilevel modelling analyses were performed to evaluate the overall effect. Temporal effects were scrutinized by individual regression analyses and determination of the time to reach a minimal clinically important difference. Furthermore, individual graphs were visually inspected for potential patterns. Twenty patients with chronic low back pain and complex regional pain syndrome type I were included. On a group level, both fear and pain were reduced following EXP. Individually, fear was significantly reduced in 65% of the patients, while pain in only 20%. A decrease in fear was seen mostly in the first weeks, while pain levels reduced later or remained unchanged. Daily measurements provided rich data on temporal trajectories of reductions in fear and pain. Overall, reductions in fear preceded pain relief and seemed to be essential to achieve pain reductions.
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