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Kleinert T, Nash K. Trait Aggression is Reflected by a Lower Temporal Stability of EEG Resting Networks. Brain Topogr 2024; 37:514-523. [PMID: 36400856 PMCID: PMC11199292 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-022-00929-6] [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: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Trait aggression can lead to catastrophic consequences for individuals and society. However, it remains unclear how aggressive people differ from others regarding basic, task-independent brain characteristics. We used EEG microstate analysis to investigate how the temporal organization of neural resting networks might help explain inter-individual differences in aggression. Microstates represent whole-brain networks, which are stable for short timeframes (40-120 ms) before quickly transitioning into other microstate types. Recent research demonstrates that the general temporal stability of microstates across types predicts higher levels of self-control and inhibitory control, and lower levels of risk-taking preferences. Given that these outcomes are inversely related to aggression, we investigated whether microstate stability at rest would predict lower levels of trait aggression. As males show higher levels of aggression than females, and males and females express aggression differently, we also tested for possible gender-differences. As hypothesized, people with higher levels of trait aggression showed lower microstate stability. This effect was moderated by gender, with men showing stronger associations compared to women. These findings support the notion that temporal dynamics of sub-second resting networks predict complex human traits. Furthermore, they provide initial indications of gender-differences in the functional significance of EEG microstates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Kleinert
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada.
- Department of Ergonomics, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Ardeystr. 67, 44139, Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Kyle Nash
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada
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2
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Romero-Martínez Á, Beser M, Cerdá-Alberich L, Aparici F, Martí-Bonmatí L, Sarrate-Costa C, Lila M, Moya-Albiol L. The role of intimate partner violence perpetrators' resting state functional connectivity in treatment compliance and recidivism. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2472. [PMID: 38291063 PMCID: PMC10828382 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52443-3] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
To expand the scientific literature on how resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (or the measurement of the strength of the coactivation of two brain regions over a sustained period of time) can be used to explain treatment compliance and recidivism among intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators. Therefore, our first aim was to assess whether men convicted of IPV (n = 53) presented different rsFC patterns from a control group of non-violent (n = 47) men. We also analyzed if the rsFC of IPV perpetrators before staring the intervention program could explain treatment compliance and recidivism one year after the intervention ended. The rsFC was measured by applying a whole brain analysis during a resting period, which lasted 45 min. IPV perpetrators showed higher rsFC in the occipital brain areas compared to controls. Furthermore, there was a positive association between the occipital pole (OP) and temporal lobes (ITG) and a negative association between the occipital (e.g., occipital fusiform gyrus, visual network) and both the parietal lobe regions (e.g., supramarginal gyrus, parietal operculum cortex, lingual gyrus) and the putamen in IPV perpetrators. This pattern was the opposite in the control group. The positive association between many of these occipital regions and the parietal, frontal, and temporal regions explained treatment compliance. Conversely, treatment compliance was also explained by a reduced rsFC between the rostral prefrontal cortex and the frontal gyrus and both the occipital and temporal gyrus, and between the temporal and the occipital and cerebellum areas and the sensorimotor superior networks. Last, the enhanced rsFC between the occipital regions and both the cerebellum and temporal gyrus predicted recidivism. Our results highlight that there are specific rsFC patterns that can distinguish IPV perpetrators from controls. These rsFC patterns could be useful to explain treatment compliance and recidivism among IPV perpetrators.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - María Beser
- Biomedical Imaging Research Group (GIBI230), La Fe Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Leonor Cerdá-Alberich
- Biomedical Imaging Research Group (GIBI230), La Fe Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Fernando Aparici
- Biomedical Imaging Research Group (GIBI230), La Fe Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Luis Martí-Bonmatí
- Biomedical Imaging Research Group (GIBI230), La Fe Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Marisol Lila
- Department of Social Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Luis Moya-Albiol
- Department of Psychobiology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
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3
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Fritz M, Soravia SM, Dudeck M, Malli L, Fakhoury M. Neurobiology of Aggression-Review of Recent Findings and Relationship with Alcohol and Trauma. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12030469. [PMID: 36979161 PMCID: PMC10044835 DOI: 10.3390/biology12030469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Aggression can be conceptualized as any behavior, physical or verbal, that involves attacking another person or animal with the intent of causing harm, pain or injury. Because of its high prevalence worldwide, aggression has remained a central clinical and public safety issue. Aggression can be caused by several risk factors, including biological and psychological, such as genetics and mental health disorders, and socioeconomic such as education, employment, financial status, and neighborhood. Research over the past few decades has also proposed a link between alcohol consumption and aggressive behaviors. Alcohol consumption can escalate aggressive behavior in humans, often leading to domestic violence or serious crimes. Converging lines of evidence have also shown that trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could have a tremendous impact on behavior associated with both alcohol use problems and violence. However, although the link between trauma, alcohol, and aggression is well documented, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms and their impact on behavior have not been properly discussed. This article provides an overview of recent advances in understanding the translational neurobiological basis of aggression and its intricate links to alcoholism and trauma, focusing on behavior. It does so by shedding light from several perspectives, including in vivo imaging, genes, receptors, and neurotransmitters and their influence on human and animal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Fritz
- School of Health and Social Sciences, AKAD University of Applied Sciences, 70191 Stuttgart, Germany
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, BKH Günzburg, Lindenallee 2, 89312 Günzburg, Germany
| | - Sarah-Maria Soravia
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, BKH Günzburg, Lindenallee 2, 89312 Günzburg, Germany
| | - Manuela Dudeck
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, BKH Günzburg, Lindenallee 2, 89312 Günzburg, Germany
| | - Layal Malli
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut P.O. Box 13-5053, Lebanon
| | - Marc Fakhoury
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut P.O. Box 13-5053, Lebanon
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4
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Wolfs EML, van Lutterveld R, Varkevisser T, Klaus J, Geuze E, Schutter DJLG. Lower cerebello-cortical functional connectivity in veterans with reactive aggression symptoms: A pilot study. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 159:42-49. [PMID: 36657313 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
A significant number of veterans experience irritability and aggression symptoms as a result of being exposed to extremely stressful and life-threatening situations. In addition to the well-established involvement of the brain's cortico-subcortical circuit in aggression-related behaviours, a role of the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) in reactive aggression has been suggested. In the present study, seed-based resting-state functional connectivity between the DCN and cortico-subcortical areas was explored in veterans with and without reactive aggression symptoms. Nineteen male veterans with reactive aggression symptoms and twenty-two control veterans without reactive aggression symptoms underwent 3T resting-state functional MRI scans. Region-of-interest (ROI) analyses that included the amygdala, hypothalamus and periaqueductal grey as ROIs did not yield significant group-related differences in resting-state functional connectivity with the DCN. However, exploratory whole-brain analysis showed that veterans with reactive aggression symptoms exhibited lower functional connectivity between the DCN and the orbitofrontal cortex compared to control veterans. Our findings provide preliminary evidence for the possible involvement of a cerebello-prefrontal pathway in reactive aggression in male veterans.
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Affiliation(s)
- E M L Wolfs
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - R van Lutterveld
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Brain Research & Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Lundlaan 1, 3584 EZ, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - T Varkevisser
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Brain Research & Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Lundlaan 1, 3584 EZ, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Research and Documentation Centre, Ministry of Justice and Security, Koningskade 4, 2596 AA, The Hague, the Netherlands
| | - J Klaus
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - E Geuze
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Brain Research & Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Lundlaan 1, 3584 EZ, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - D J L G Schutter
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Tonnaer F, van Zutphen L, Raine A, Cima M. Amygdala connectivity and aggression. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2023; 197:87-106. [PMID: 37633721 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-821375-9.00002-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Neurobiological models propose that reactive aggression is predicated on impairments in amygdala-prefrontal connectivity that subserves moral decision-making and emotion regulation. The amygdala is a key component within this neural network that modulates reactive aggression. We provide a review of amygdala dysfunctional brain networks leading to reactive aggressive behavior. We elaborate on key concepts, focusing on moral decision-making and emotion regulation in a developmental context, and brain network connectivity factors relating to amygdala (dys)function-factors which we suggest predispose to reactive aggression. We additionally discuss insights into the latest treatment interventions, providing the utilization of the scientific findings for practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franca Tonnaer
- Department of Research, Ventio Crime Prevention Science Institute, Rijckholt, The Netherlands
| | - Linda van Zutphen
- Department of Conditions for LifeLong Learning, Educational Sciences, Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - Adrian Raine
- Department of Criminology, Richard Perry University, Berkeley, CA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Maaike Cima
- Department of Research, Ventio Crime Prevention Science Institute, Rijckholt, The Netherlands; Department of Developmental Psychopathology, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Research, VIGO Groep, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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6
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Forbes D, Metcalf O, Lawrence-Wood E, Adler AB. Problematic Anger in the Military: Focusing on the Forgotten Emotion. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2022; 24:789-797. [PMID: 36445637 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-022-01380-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Problematic anger is common in veteran and military populations, yet understudied relative to other mental health difficulties. However, in recent years, more clinical and research attention has been turned to problematic anger. This paper highlights important new findings in the epidemiology, course, and neurobiology of anger, the associations of anger with other mental health problems and risk, and next steps for research and practice. RECENT FINDINGS In longitudinal research, findings show that problematic anger changes over the life course of military members and veterans, and that deployment increases the likelihood of problematic levels of anger. Problematic anger is related to a range of mental health issues, most perniciously aggression and suicidality. Promising new assessment and treatment approaches are emerging, including innovations that leverage digital technology. Key areas of research include advancing assessment of problematic anger to identify patterns of heterogeneity, as well as advancing the evidence base for anger treatments. Recommended progress in clinical practice include conducting routine assessment of problematic anger in veteran and military populations, developing prevention and early intervention for at risk individuals, and optimizing the timing of interventions throughout the military lifecycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Forbes
- Department of Psychiatry, Phoenix Australia - Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
| | - Olivia Metcalf
- Department of Psychiatry, Phoenix Australia - Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Ellie Lawrence-Wood
- Department of Psychiatry, Phoenix Australia - Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Amy B Adler
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
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7
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Zhang S, Cui J, Zhang Z, Wang Y, Liu R, Chen X, Feng Y, Zhou J, Zhou Y, Wang G. Functional connectivity of amygdala subregions predicts vulnerability to depression following the COVID-19 pandemic. J Affect Disord 2022; 297:421-429. [PMID: 34606814 PMCID: PMC8558508 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.09.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The amygdala is vital in processing psychological stress and predicting vulnerability or resilience to stress-related disorders. This study aimed to build the link between functional magnetic resonance imaging data obtained before the stress event and the subsequent stress-related depressive symptoms. METHODS Neuroimaging data obtained before the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic from 39 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 61 health controls (HCs) were used in this study. The participants were divided retrospectively into four groups in accordance with the severity of depressive symptoms during the pandemic: remitted patients, non-remitted patients, depressed HCs (HCd) and non-depressed HCs (HCnd). Seed-based resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) analyses of the amygdala and its subregions, including the centromedial (CM), the basolateral and the superficial (SF), were performed. RESULTS Vulnerability to depression was suggested by decreased rsFC between the left CM amygdala and the bilateral lingual gyrus in the HCd group compared with the HCnd group, and decreased rsFC of the left CM or right SF amygdala with the precuneus and the postcentral gyrus in the HCd group compared with patients with MDD. No evidence supported the rsFC of the amygdala or its subregions as a biomarker for the resilience of patients with MDD to stress under antidepressant treatment. LIMITATIONS Smaller sample size and no longitudinal neuroimaging data. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggested that the rsFC of amygdala subregions may represent a neurobiological marker of vulnerability to depression following stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shudong Zhang
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China
| | - Jian Cui
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China
| | - Zhifang Zhang
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China
| | - Yun Wang
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China
| | - Rui Liu
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China
| | - Xiongying Chen
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China
| | - Yuan Feng
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China,Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Jingjing Zhou
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China
| | - Yuan Zhou
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Beijing 100101, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Gang Wang
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China.
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8
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Göttlich M, Buades-Rotger M, Wiechert J, Beyer F, Krämer UM. Structural covariance of amygdala subregions is associated with trait aggression and endogenous testosterone in healthy individuals. Neuropsychologia 2021; 165:108113. [PMID: 34896406 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.108113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Many studies point toward volume reductions in the amygdala as a potential neurostructural marker for trait aggression. However, most of these findings stem from clinical samples, rendering unclear whether the findings generalize to non-clinical populations. Furthermore, the notion of neural networks suggests that interregional correlations in gray matter volume (i.e., structural covariance) can explain individual differences in aggressive behavior beyond local univariate associations. Here, we tested whether structural covariance between amygdala subregions and the rest of the brain is associated with self-reported aggression in a large sample of healthy young students (n = 263; 49% women). Salivary testosterone concentrations were measured for a subset of n = 40 male and n = 36 female subjects, allowing us to investigate the influence of endogenous testosterone on structural covariance. Aggressive individuals showed enhanced covariance between left superficial amygdala (SFA) and left dorsal anterior insula (dAI), but lower covariance between right laterobasal amygdala (LBA) and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). These structural patterns overlap with functional networks involved in the genesis and regulation of aggressive behavior, respectively. With increasing endogenous testosterone, we observed stronger structural covariance between right centromedial amygdala (CMA) and right medial prefrontal cortex in men and between left CMA and bilateral orbitofrontal cortex in women. These results speak for structural covariance of amygdala subregions as a robust correlate of trait aggression in healthy individuals. Moreover, regions that showed structural covariance with the amygdala modulated by either testosterone or aggression did not overlap, suggesting a complex role of testosterone in human social behavior beyond facilitating aggressiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Göttlich
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany; Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Macià Buades-Rotger
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany; Department of Psychology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Juliana Wiechert
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Frederike Beyer
- Psychology Department, Queen Mary University, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ulrike M Krämer
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany; Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany; Department of Psychology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
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9
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Sukhodolsky DG, Ibrahim K, Kalvin CB, Jordan RP, Eilbott J, Hampson M. Increased amygdala and decreased frontolimbic r esting- s tate functional connectivity in children with aggressive behavior. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2021; 17:634-644. [PMID: 34850939 PMCID: PMC9250305 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsab128] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood maladaptive aggression is associated with disrupted functional connectivity within amygdala-prefrontal circuitry. In this study, neural correlates of childhood aggression were probed using the intrinsic connectivity distribution, a voxel-wise metric of global resting-state brain connectivity. This sample included 38 children with aggressive behavior (26 boys, 12 girls) ages 8-16 years and 21 healthy controls (14 boys, 6 girls) matched for age and IQ. Functional MRI data were acquired during resting state, and differential patterns of intrinsic functional connectivity were tested in a priori regions of interest implicated in the pathophysiology of aggressive behavior. Next, correlational analyses tested for associations between functional connectivity and severity of aggression measured by the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire in children with aggression. Children with aggressive behavior showed increased global connectivity in the bilateral amygdala relative to controls. Greater severity of aggressive behavior was associated with decreasing global connectivity in the dorsal anterior cingulate and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Follow-up seed analysis revealed that aggression was also positively correlated with left amygdala connectivity with the dorsal anterior cingulate, ventromedial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortical regions. These results highlight the potential role of connectivity of the amygdala and medial prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices in modulating the severity of aggressive behavior in treatment-seeking children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis G Sukhodolsky
- Correspondence should be addressed to Denis G. Sukhodolsky, Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, 230 South Frontage Road, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. E-mail:
| | - Karim Ibrahim
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Carla B Kalvin
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Rebecca P Jordan
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Jeffrey Eilbott
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA,SurveyBott Consulting, Guilford, CT 06437, USA
| | - Michelle Hampson
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA,Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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10
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The Modulatory Role of Serotonin on Human Impulsive Aggression. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 90:447-457. [PMID: 34266672 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The hypothesis of chronically low brain serotonin levels as pathophysiologically linked to impulsive aggression has been around for several decades. Whereas the theory was initially based on indirect methods to probe serotonin function, our understanding of the neural mechanisms involved in impulsive aggression has progressed with recent advances in neuroimaging. The review integrates evidence based on data from several neuroimaging domains in humans. In vivo molecular neuroimaging findings demonstrate associations between impulsive aggression and high serotonin 1B and serotonin 4 receptor binding, high serotonin transporter levels, and low monoamine oxidase A levels, suggesting that low interstitial serotonin levels are a neurobiological risk factor for impulsive aggressive behavior. Imaging genetics suggests that serotonergic-related genetic polymorphisms associate with antisocial behavior, and some evidence indicates that the low-expressing monoamine oxidase A genotype specifically predisposes to impulsive aggression, which may be mediated by effects on corticolimbic function. Interventions that (presumably) alter serotonin levels have effects on brain activity within brain regions involved in impulsive aggression, notably the amygdala, dorsal striatum, anterior cingulate, insula, and prefrontal cortex. Based on these findings, we propose a model for the modulatory role of serotonin in impulsive aggression. Future studies should ensure that clinical features unique for impulsive aggression are appropriately assessed, and we propose investigations of knowledge gaps that can help confirm, refute, or modify our proposed model of impulsive aggression.
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11
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Eshel N, Maron-Katz A, Wu W, Abu-Amara D, Marmar CR, Etkin A. Neural correlates of anger expression in patients with PTSD. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:1635-1642. [PMID: 33500557 PMCID: PMC8280145 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-00942-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Anger is a common and debilitating symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although studies have identified brain circuits underlying anger experience and expression in healthy individuals, how these circuits interact with trauma remains unclear. Here, we performed the first study examining the neural correlates of anger in patients with PTSD. Using a data-driven approach with resting-state fMRI, we identified two prefrontal regions whose overall functional connectivity was inversely associated with anger: the left anterior middle frontal gyrus (aMFG) and the right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). We then used concurrent TMS-EEG to target the left aMFG parcel previously identified through fMRI, measuring its cortical excitability and causal connectivity to downstream areas. We found that low-anger PTSD patients exhibited enhanced excitability in the left aMFG and enhanced causal connectivity between this region and visual areas. Together, our results suggest that left aMFG activity may confer protection against the development of anger, and therefore may be an intriguing target for circuit-based interventions for anger in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neir Eshel
- Department of Psychiatry, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Sierra-Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
| | - Adi Maron-Katz
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Psychiatry, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA ,grid.280747.e0000 0004 0419 2556Sierra-Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA USA
| | - Wei Wu
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Psychiatry, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA ,grid.79703.3a0000 0004 1764 3838School of Automation Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Duna Abu-Amara
- grid.240324.30000 0001 2109 4251Department of Psychiatry and Center for Alcohol Use Disorder and PTSD, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - Charles R. Marmar
- grid.240324.30000 0001 2109 4251Department of Psychiatry and Center for Alcohol Use Disorder and PTSD, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - Amit Etkin
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Psychiatry, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA ,grid.511021.6Alto Neuroscience, Los Altos, CA USA
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12
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Varkevisser T, van Lutterveld R, Heesink L, van Honk J, Geuze E. Voxel-based morphometry and cortical thickness in combat veterans suffering from impulsive aggression. Psychol Med 2021; 51:1299-1309. [PMID: 32029023 PMCID: PMC8223237 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291720000033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Problems with impulsive aggression occur in many forms of psychiatric dysfunction, and are a common complaint among combat veterans. The present study sought to examine the neuroanatomical correlates of combat-related impulsive aggression. METHODS T1-weighted magnetic resonance images were acquired from 29 male veterans with impulsive aggression and 30 non-aggressive combat controls. Subcortical volumetry was conducted with the amygdala and hippocampus and their main constituent subdivisions as regions-of-interest (ROIs) (basolateral, centromedial amygdala; head, body, tail of hippocampus). Cortical thickness measurements were extracted for the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex. Within-group correlations with psychometric measures were also explored. RESULTS No significant group differences in cortical thickness or subcortical grey matter volumes were observed for any of the ROIs. Also, no significant correlations with any of the psychometric measures were recorded. Exploratory whole-brain analysis of cortical thickness revealed a significant group × anxiety interaction effect in a cluster located in the left lingual gyrus. CONCLUSIONS The current findings indicate that problems with impulsive aggression may not be directly associated with alterations in cortical thickness or amygdalar/hippocampal (sub)volumes. The observed interplay between impulsive aggression problems and anxiety-related symptoms is consistent with prior work showing the two phenomena may share the same underlying (neural) mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Varkevisser
- University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Brain Research and Innovation Center, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Remko van Lutterveld
- University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Brain Research and Innovation Center, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lieke Heesink
- University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Brain Research and Innovation Center, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jack van Honk
- Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Elbert Geuze
- University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Brain Research and Innovation Center, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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13
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Gouveia FV, Germann J, de Morais R, Fonoff ET, Hamani C, Alho EJ, Brentani H, Martins AP, Devenyi G, Patel R, Steele C, Gramer R, Chakravarty M, Martinez RCR. Longitudinal Changes After Amygdala Surgery for Intractable Aggressive Behavior: Clinical, Imaging Genetics, and Deformation-Based Morphometry Study-A Case Series. Neurosurgery 2021; 88:E158-E169. [PMID: 33026432 DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyaa378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intractable aggressive behavior (iAB) is a devastating behavioral disorder that may affect psychiatric patients. These patients have reduced quality of life, are more challenging to treat as they impose a high caregiver burden and require specialized care. Neuromodulatory interventions targeting the amygdala, a key hub in the circuitry of aggressive behavior (AB), may provide symptom alleviation. OBJECTIVE To Report clinical and imaging findings from a case series of iAB patients treated with bilateral amygdala ablation. METHODS This series included 4 cases (3 males, 19-32 years old) who underwent bilateral amygdala radiofrequency ablation for iAB hallmarked by life-threatening self-injury and social aggression. Pre- and postassessments involved full clinical, psychiatric, and neurosurgical evaluations, including scales quantifying AB, general agitation, quality of life, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS Postsurgery assessments revealed decreased aggression and agitation and improved quality of life. AB was correlated with testosterone levels and testosterone/cortisol ratio in males. No clinically significant side effects were observed. Imaging analyses showed preoperative amygdala volumes within normal populational range and confirmed lesion locations. The reductions in aggressive symptoms were accompanied by significant postsurgical volumetric reductions in brain areas classically associated with AB and increases in regions related to somatosensation. The local volumetric reductions are found in areas that in a normal brain show high expression levels of genes related to AB (eg, aminergic transmission) using gene expression data provided by the Allen brain atlas. CONCLUSION These findings provide new insight into the whole brain neurocircuitry of aggression and suggest a role of altered somatosensation and possible novel neuromodulation targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Venetucci Gouveia
- Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Teaching and Research Institute, Hospital Sirio-Libanes, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jürgen Germann
- CIC, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Rosa de Morais
- PROTEA, Department of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Erich Talamoni Fonoff
- Department of Neurology, Division of Functional Neurosurgery, Institute of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Clement Hamani
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Neurology, Division of Functional Neurosurgery, Institute of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Division of Neurosurgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Eduardo Joaquim Alho
- Department of Neurology, Division of Functional Neurosurgery, Institute of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Helena Brentani
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents, CNPq, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Martins
- PROTEA, Department of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Devenyi
- CIC, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Raihaan Patel
- CIC, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Christopher Steele
- CIC, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Robert Gramer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Mallar Chakravarty
- CIC, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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14
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He Y, Li K, Li J, Wang J, Cheng N, Xiao J, Jiang T. Cingulum White Matter Integrity as a Mediator Between Harm Avoidance and Hostility. Neuroscience 2021; 461:36-43. [PMID: 33691143 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.02.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
As a textbook manifestation of an aggressive attitude, hostility can pose a serious threat to both an individual's life and the security of society at large. Past evidence suggests that some anxiety-related traits may be more prone to giving rise to hostility. However, many aspects of hostility, such as, determining the susceptible temperament for hostility, the neural basis of hostility, and the underlying mechanisms through which having a susceptible temperament generates hostility in a healthy brain, remain unclear. In this study, we sought to delve into these questions by assessing temperament and brain white matter integrity using self-report questionnaires and diffusion tensor imaging in a sizable sample of healthy adults (n = 357). First, we investigated the relationship between hostility and the four temperaments of the Cloninger model. Then, we investigated which white matter tracts were significantly correlated with hostility using a whole-brain analysis. Finally, we used a mediation analysis to explore the tripartite relationship between vulnerability temperament, the fractional anisotropy (FA) value of the white matter, and hostility. Our results suggest that a harm avoidance temperament may be susceptible to hostility and that the cingulum may be a key white matter region responsible for hostility. Based on these results, we developed a temperament-brain-attitude pathway showing how harm avoidance temperament could affect the brain and ultimately lead to hostility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yini He
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China; Brainnetome Center, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Kaixin Li
- Brainnetome Center, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Jin Li
- Brainnetome Center, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Jiaojian Wang
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Nanhua Cheng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition, School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Jing Xiao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition, School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Tianzi Jiang
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China; Brainnetome Center, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Artificial Intelligence, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; The Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
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15
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McGlade E, Rogowska J, DiMuzio J, Bueler E, Sheth C, Legarreta M, Yurgelun-Todd D. Neurobiological evidence of sexual dimorphism in limbic circuitry of US Veterans. J Affect Disord 2020; 274:1091-1101. [PMID: 32663937 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Female Veterans are an increasing patient population in the Department of Veterans Affairs and may have distinct clinical and neurobiological features compared to males. METHODS Nineteen female and 19 male Veterans who met diagnostic criteria for depression/posttraumatic stress disorder (MDD/PTSD) completed diagnostic interviews, symptom measures, and resting-state neuroimaging. Participants completed clinical measures of mood and aggression in addition to magnetic resonance imaging on a 3.0 Tesla Siemens scanner. RESULTS Females showed increased functional connectivity between the left and right basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the left and right cerebellar and occipital lobes. Sex differences also were evident in the relationship between affective and clinical symptoms with BLA connectivity. Females showed a correlation between revenge planning and decreased connectivity between the left BLA and left occipital lobe and also a correlation between aggression and decreased connectivity between the right BLA and right mid cingulate, right and left medial frontal lobe, and right frontal lobe. Males evidenced a relationship between increased depressive symptoms and increased connectivity between the left BLA and right and left occipital lobe, left calcarine, and other areas associated with visual memory and processing, and interpretation of sensory information. Additionally, males reported higher levels of physical aggression and revenge planning compared to females. LIMITATIONS This study included neuroimaging and self-report clinical measures. Further studies will benefit from multimodal measures, including behavioral measures of aggression. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that male Veterans report more aggression than females and symptoms of aggression and mood are differentially related to BLA connectivity by sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin McGlade
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging Lab, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; VISN 19 MIRREC, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
| | - Jadwiga Rogowska
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging Lab, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Jennifer DiMuzio
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging Lab, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; VISN 19 MIRREC, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Elliott Bueler
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging Lab, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; VISN 19 MIRREC, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Chandni Sheth
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging Lab, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Margaret Legarreta
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging Lab, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; VISN 19 MIRREC, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Deborah Yurgelun-Todd
- Diagnostic Neuroimaging Lab, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; VISN 19 MIRREC, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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16
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Fitzgerald JM, Belleau EL, Miskovich TA, Pedersen WS, Larson CL. Multi-voxel pattern analysis of amygdala functional connectivity at rest predicts variability in posttraumatic stress severity. Brain Behav 2020; 10:e01707. [PMID: 32525273 PMCID: PMC7428479 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) studies demonstrate that individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibit atypical functional connectivity (FC) between the amygdala, involved in the generation of emotion, and regions responsible for emotional appraisal (e.g., insula, orbitofrontal cortex [OFC]) and regulation (prefrontal cortex [PFC], anterior cingulate cortex). Consequently, atypical amygdala FC within an emotional processing and regulation network may be a defining feature of PTSD, although altered FC does not seem constrained to one brain region. Instead, altered amygdala FC involves a large, distributed brain network in those with PTSD. The present study used a machine-learning data-driven approach, multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA), to predict PTSD severity based on whole-brain patterns of amygdala FC. METHODS Trauma-exposed adults (N = 90) completed the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version to assess symptoms and a 5-min rsfMRI. Whole-brain FC values to bilateral amygdala were extracted and used in a relevance vector regression analysis with a leave-one-out approach for cross-validation with permutation testing (1,000) to obtain significance values. RESULTS Results demonstrated that amygdala FC predicted PCL-C scores with statistically significant accuracy (r = .46, p = .001; mean sum of squares = 130.46, p = .001; R2 = 0.21, p = .001). Prediction was based on whole-brain amygdala FC, although regions that informed prediction (top 10%) included the OFC, amygdala, and dorsolateral PFC. CONCLUSION Findings demonstrate the utility of MVPA based on amygdala FC to predict individual severity of PTSD symptoms and that amygdala FC within a fear acquisition and regulation network contributed to accurate prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily L Belleau
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Walker S Pedersen
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Christine L Larson
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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17
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Effects of exogenous testosterone application on network connectivity within emotion regulation systems. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2352. [PMID: 32047245 PMCID: PMC7012825 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59329-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies with steroid hormones underlined the vital role of testosterone on social-emotional processing. However, there is still a lack of studies investigating whether testosterone modulates network connectivity during resting-state. Here, we tested how the exogenous application of testosterone would affect functional connectivity between regions implicated in emotion regulation. In total, 96 male participants underwent resting-state fMRI scanning. Before the measurement, half of the subjects received 5 g TestimTM gel (containing 50 mg testosterone) and the other half a corresponding amount of placebo gel. Seeds for the connectivity analysis were meta-analytically defined. First, all regions associated with emotion regulation were chosen via Neurosynth (data driven). Among those, specific seeds were selected and categorized based on the neural model of emotion regulation by Etkin and colleagues (Etkin et al., 2015) (theory-guided). Resting-state connectivity analysis revealed decreased connectivity between the right DLPFC and the right amygdala as well as between the VMPFC and the left IPL for the testosterone group compared to the placebo group. A complementary dynamic causal modeling (DCM) analysis on findings from the resting-state connectivity analysis underlined a bidirectional coupling which was decreased close to zero by testosterone administration. Our results demonstrate that testosterone administration disrupts resting-state connectivity within fronto-subcortical and fronto-parietal circuits. The findings suggest that even without a specific task (e.g. challenge, reward processing) testosterone modulates brain networks important for social-emotional processing.
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18
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Siep N, Tonnaer F, van de Ven V, Arntz A, Raine A, Cima M. Anger provocation increases limbic and decreases medial prefrontal cortex connectivity with the left amygdala in reactive aggressive violent offenders. Brain Imaging Behav 2020; 13:1311-1323. [PMID: 30145716 PMCID: PMC6732149 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-018-9945-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Neurobiological models propose reactive aggression as a failure in emotion regulation, caused by an imbalance between prefrontal cortical control and excessive bottom-up signals of negative affect by limbic regions, including the amygdala. Therefore, we hypothesize a negative correlation between PFC and amygdala activity (pre/post resting-state scans) in violent offenders. In this study resting-state fMRI was administered before and after an emotion (anger and happiness) provocation or engagement task within 18 male violent offenders scoring high on reactive aggression, and 18 male non-offender controls. Research in emotional pre/post resting-state showed altered connectivity by task performance. Therefore, bilateral amygdala region of interest (ROI) whole brain functional connectivity analysis tested dynamic change differences between pre and post resting-state connectivity between groups. Self-reported anger showed a positive significant relationship with medial prefrontal cortex activity in the pre-task scan and significantly increased during the emotion task in both the violent and control group. Imaging results showed a significant decrease in amygdala – medial prefrontal functional connectivity in the violent offenders and an increase in the non-offender controls after the emotion task. The opposite pattern was found for amygdala connectivity with the (para) limbic regions: violent offenders showed increased connectivity and non-offender controls showed decreased connectivity. The present results indicate that reactive aggression might stem from a focus on emotion processing, as indicated by an increase in limbic functional connectivity. The combination of a focus on emotion, along with a lack of medial prefrontal cortex regulation, has the potential to grow out of control e.g. in reactive aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolette Siep
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Franca Tonnaer
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Research, Forensic Psychiatric Centre de Rooyse Wissel, Venray, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent van de Ven
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Arnoud Arntz
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Adrian Raine
- Departments of Criminology, Psychiatry, and Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA USA
| | - Maaike Cima
- Department of Developmental Psychopathology, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Conrisq Group, Juvenile Youth Institutions (YouthCarePLUS), BJ Brabant, OGH Zetten & Pactum, Zetten, The Netherlands
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19
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Regions of white matter abnormalities in the arcuate fasciculus in veterans with anger and aggression problems. Brain Struct Funct 2019; 225:1401-1411. [PMID: 31883025 PMCID: PMC7271041 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-02016-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Aggression after military deployment is a common occurrence in veterans. Neurobiological research has shown that aggression is associated with a dysfunction in a network connecting brain regions implicated in threat processing and emotion regulation. However, aggression may also be related to deficits in networks underlying communication and social cognition. The uncinate and arcuate fasciculi are integral to these networks, thus studying potential abnormalities in these white matter connections can further our understanding of anger and aggression problems in military veterans. Here, we use diffusion tensor imaging tractography to investigate white matter microstructural properties of the uncinate fasciculus and the arcuate fasciculus in veterans with and without anger and aggression problems. A control tract, the parahippocampal cingulum was also included in the analyses. More specifically, fractional anisotropy (FA) estimates are derived along the trajectory from all fiber pathways and compared between both groups. No between-group FA differences are observed for the uncinate fasciculus and the cingulum, however parts of the arcuate fasciculus show a significantly lower FA in the group of veterans with aggression and anger problems. Our data suggest that abnormalities in arcuate fasciculus white matter connectivity that are related to self-regulation may play an important role in the etiology of anger and aggression in military veterans.
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20
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The basolateral amygdala regulation of complex cognitive behaviours in the five-choice serial reaction time task. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:3135-3146. [PMID: 31079161 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05260-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE The basolateral amygdala (BLA) plays important roles in the cognitive control in human and non-human animals. However, inconsistent findings between species have been observed and there have been relatively few detailed investigations of the cognitive properties of BLA, especially in mice. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to determine the role of BLA in cognition by using optogenetic manipulations. METHODS Male C57BL/six mice were trained and tested on the five-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT), open-field test (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM), Y-maze, and novel object recognition (NOR) test during optogenetic stimulation and inhibition of the BLA. RESULTS Optogenetic activation of the BLA decreased the impulsivity and increased the compulsivity of mice, whereas optogenetic inhibition of BLA had the opposite effect. Similarly, anxiety-like behaviours and spatial working memory were increased in BLA activation mice, whereas BLA inhibition decreased these behaviours. However, both BLA activation and inhibition decreased the motivation of the mice. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that the BLA regulates impulsive action and spatial working memory, and plays a critical role in anxiety-like behaviours.
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21
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Korpel POJ, Varkevisser T, Hoppenbrouwers SS, Van Honk J, Geuze E. The Predictive Value of Early-Life Trauma, Psychopathy, and the Testosterone-Cortisol Ratio for Impulsive Aggression Problems in Veterans. CHRONIC STRESS 2019; 3:2470547019871901. [PMID: 32440599 PMCID: PMC7219916 DOI: 10.1177/2470547019871901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Background In this study, we examined whether early-life trauma, psychopathy, and the
testosterone/cortisol ratio predicted impulsive aggression problems in
veterans. Method A sample of 49 male veterans with impulsive aggression problems and 51
nonaggressive veterans were included in the study. Logistic regression
analysis was performed with early-life trauma, primary and secondary
psychopathy, and testosterone/cortisol ratio as continuous predictor
variables; impulsive aggression status was entered as a binary outcome
measure. Correlation analyses were conducted to examine pairwise relations
among the predictors. Results Results indicated that early-life trauma and secondary psychopathy, but not
the testosterone/cortisol ratio or primary psychopathy, were significant
predictors of impulsive aggression status. Conclusions The current results indicate that early-life trauma and secondary psychopathy
are risk factors for impulsive aggression problems among veterans. Future
studies are needed to determine the exact causal relations among the
variables examined here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline O J Korpel
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Brain Research and Innovation Center, Dutch Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Tim Varkevisser
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Brain Research and Innovation Center, Dutch Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Sylco S Hoppenbrouwers
- Thalamus, Centre for Neuropsychiatry and Behavioural Neurology, Wolfheze, the Netherlands
| | - Jack Van Honk
- Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Elbert Geuze
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Brain Research and Innovation Center, Dutch Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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22
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Zheng D, Chen J, Wang X, Zhou Y. Genetic contribution to the phenotypic correlation between trait impulsivity and resting-state functional connectivity of the amygdala and its subregions. Neuroimage 2019; 201:115997. [PMID: 31284029 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Trait impulsivity, a predisposition to respond to stimuli without regard for the potentially negative consequences, contributes to many maladaptive behaviors. Studies have shown that both genetic factors and interregional functional interactions underlie trait impulsivity. However, whether common genes contribute to both trait impulsivity and its neural basis is still unknown. This study investigated the phenotypic correlations between trait impulsivity and the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the amygdala as well as its subregions and the genetic contribution to the phenotypic correlations. By recruiting a sample of 292 twins in late adolescence and young adulthood, we found that trait impulsivity was positively correlated with the rsFC between the left full amygdala and the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Further analyses on the subregions of the amygdala showed that trait impulsivity was positively correlated with the rsFCs between the left basolateral (BL) amygdala and both the right DLPFC and the right inferior frontal gyrus and with the rsFCs between the right superficial (SF) amygdala and both the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and right anterior insula. Bivariate genetic modelling analyses found genetic overlaps between trait impulsivity and the rsFC of the left full amygdala or the left BL amygdala with the right DLPFC. The proportions of phenotypic associations accounted for by overlapping genes were 82% and 60%, respectively. These results provide evidence for the genetic overlap between trait impulsivity and the intrinsic brain functional connectivity centered at the amygdala and especially at its BL subregion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dang Zheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, 100101, PR China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China; Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research Center, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, PR China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China; CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, 100101, PR China
| | - Xiaoming Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, 100101, PR China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Yuan Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, 100101, PR China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China; Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research Center, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, PR China; The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100088, China.
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23
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Gouveia FV, Hamani C, Fonoff ET, Brentani H, Alho EJL, de Morais RMCB, de Souza AL, Rigonatti SP, Martinez RCR. Amygdala and Hypothalamus: Historical Overview With Focus on Aggression. Neurosurgery 2019; 85:11-30. [PMID: 30690521 PMCID: PMC6565484 DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyy635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggressiveness has a high prevalence in psychiatric patients and is a major health problem. Two brain areas involved in the neural network of aggressive behavior are the amygdala and the hypothalamus. While pharmacological treatments are effective in most patients, some do not properly respond to conventional therapies and are considered medically refractory. In this population, surgical procedures (ie, stereotactic lesions and deep brain stimulation) have been performed in an attempt to improve symptomatology and quality of life. Clinical results obtained after surgery are difficult to interpret, and the mechanisms responsible for postoperative reductions in aggressive behavior are unknown. We review the rationale and neurobiological characteristics that may help to explain why functional neurosurgery has been proposed to control aggressive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Clement Hamani
- Department of Neurology, Division of Functional Neurosurgery of the Institute of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo School, Medicine School, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Division of Neurosurgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Erich Talamoni Fonoff
- Department of Neurology, Division of Functional Neurosurgery of the Institute of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo School, Medicine School, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Helena Brentani
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents, CNPq, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Joaquim Lopes Alho
- Department of Neurology, Division of Functional Neurosurgery of the Institute of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo School, Medicine School, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Aline Luz de Souza
- Department of Neurology, Division of Functional Neurosurgery of the Institute of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo School, Medicine School, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Romero-Martínez Á, González M, Lila M, Gracia E, Martí-Bonmatí L, Alberich-Bayarri Á, Maldonado-Puig R, Ten-Esteve A, Moya-Albiol L. The Brain Resting-State Functional Connectivity Underlying Violence Proneness: Is It a Reliable Marker for Neurocriminology? A Systematic Review. Behav Sci (Basel) 2019; 9:bs9010011. [PMID: 30650635 PMCID: PMC6359496 DOI: 10.3390/bs9010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 12/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: There is growing scientific interest in understanding the biological mechanisms affecting and/or underlying violent behaviors in order to develop effective treatment and prevention programs. In recent years, neuroscientific research has tried to demonstrate whether the intrinsic activity within the brain at rest in the absence of any external stimulation (resting-state functional connectivity; RSFC) could be employed as a reliable marker for several cognitive abilities and personality traits that are important in behavior regulation, particularly, proneness to violence. Aims: This review aims to highlight the association between the RSFC among specific brain structures and the predisposition to experiencing anger and/or responding to stressful and distressing situations with anger in several populations. Methods: The scientific literature was reviewed following the PRISMA quality criteria for reviews, using the following digital databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, Psicodoc, and Dialnet. Results: The identification of 181 abstracts and retrieval of 34 full texts led to the inclusion of 17 papers. The results described in our study offer a better understanding of the brain networks that might explain the tendency to experience anger. The majority of the studies highlighted that diminished RSFC between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala might make people prone to reactive violence, but that it is also necessary to contemplate additional cortical (i.e., insula, gyrus [angular, supramarginal, temporal, fusiform, superior, and middle frontal], anterior and posterior cingulated cortex) and subcortical brain structures (i.e., hippocampus, cerebellum, ventral striatum, and nucleus centralis superior) in order to explain a phenomenon as complex as violence. Moreover, we also described the neural pathways that might underlie proactive violence and feelings of revenge, highlighting the RSFC between the OFC, ventral striatal, angular gyrus, mid-occipital cortex, and cerebellum. Conclusions. The results from this synthesis and critical analysis of RSFC findings in several populations offer guidelines for future research and for developing a more accurate model of proneness to violence, in order to create effective treatment and prevention programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángel Romero-Martínez
- Psychobiology Department, University of València, 46010 València, Spain; (M.G.); (L.M.-A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +3-496-386-4302; Fax: +3-496-386-4668
| | - Macarena González
- Psychobiology Department, University of València, 46010 València, Spain; (M.G.); (L.M.-A.)
| | - Marisol Lila
- Department of Social Psychology, University of Valencia, 46010 València, Spain; (M.L.); (E.G.)
| | - Enrique Gracia
- Department of Social Psychology, University of Valencia, 46010 València, Spain; (M.L.); (E.G.)
| | - Luis Martí-Bonmatí
- Biomedical Imaging Research Group (GIBI230), La Fe Health Research Institute, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (L.M.-B.); (A.A.-B.); (R.M.-P.); (A.T.-E.)
| | - Ángel Alberich-Bayarri
- Biomedical Imaging Research Group (GIBI230), La Fe Health Research Institute, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (L.M.-B.); (A.A.-B.); (R.M.-P.); (A.T.-E.)
| | - Rebeca Maldonado-Puig
- Biomedical Imaging Research Group (GIBI230), La Fe Health Research Institute, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (L.M.-B.); (A.A.-B.); (R.M.-P.); (A.T.-E.)
| | - Amadeo Ten-Esteve
- Biomedical Imaging Research Group (GIBI230), La Fe Health Research Institute, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (L.M.-B.); (A.A.-B.); (R.M.-P.); (A.T.-E.)
| | - Luis Moya-Albiol
- Psychobiology Department, University of València, 46010 València, Spain; (M.G.); (L.M.-A.)
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Hosie S, Malone DT, Liu S, Glass M, Adlard PA, Hannan AJ, Hill-Yardin EL. Altered Amygdala Excitation and CB1 Receptor Modulation of Aggressive Behavior in the Neuroligin-3 R451C Mouse Model of Autism. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:234. [PMID: 30123111 PMCID: PMC6085410 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding neuronal mechanisms underlying aggression in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) could lead to better treatments and prognosis. The Neuroligin-3 (NL3)R451C mouse model of ASD has a heightened aggressive phenotype, however the biological mechanisms underlying this behavior are unknown. It is well established that NL3R451C mice have imbalanced excitatory and inhibitory synaptic activity in the hippocampus and somatosensory cortex. The amygdala plays a role in modulating aggressive behavior, however potential changes in synaptic activity in this region have not previously been assessed in this model. We investigated whether aggressive behavior is robustly present in mice expressing the R451C mutation, following back-crossing onto a congenic background strain. Endocannabinoids influence social interaction and aggressive behavior, therefore we also studied the effects of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) agonist on NL3R451C mice. We report that NL3R451C mice have increased amplitude of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) with a concomitant decrease in the amplitude of inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) in the basolateral amygdala. Importantly, we demonstrated that NL3R451C mice bred on a C57Bl/6 background strain exhibit an aggressive phenotype. Following non-sedating doses (0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg) of the CB1 receptor agonist WIN55,212-2 (WIN), we observed a significant reduction in aggressive behavior in NL3R451C mice. These findings demonstrate altered synaptic activity in the basolateral amygdala and suggest that the NL3R451C mouse model is a useful preclinical tool to understand the role of CB1 receptor function in aggressive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Hosie
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Daniel T Malone
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Stephanie Liu
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Michelle Glass
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Paul Anthony Adlard
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Anthony John Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Elisa L Hill-Yardin
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.,Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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