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McGugin RW, Roche A, Ma J, Gauthier I. Challenges in replication: Does amygdala gray matter volume relate to social network size? COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2024; 24:707-719. [PMID: 38549033 PMCID: PMC11233388 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-024-01185-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
In this work, we tried to replicate and extend prior research on the relationship between social network size and the volume of the amygdala. We focused on the earliest evidence for this relationship (Bickart et al., Nature Neuroscience 14(2), 163-164, 2011) and another methodologically unique study that often is cited as a replication (Kanai et al., Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 279(1732), 1327-1334, 2012). Despite their tight link in the literature, we argue that Kanai et al. (Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 279(1732), 1327-1334, 2012) is not a replication of Bickart et al. Nature Neuroscience 14(2), 163-164 (2011), because it uses different morphometric measurements. We collected data from 128 participants on a 7-Tesla MRI and examined variations in gray matter volume (GMV) in the amygdala and its nuclei. We found inconclusive support for a correlation between measures of real-world social network and amygdala GMV, with small effect sizes and only anecdotal evidence for a positive relationship. We found support for the absence of a correlation between measures of online social network and amygdala GMV. We discuss different challenges faced in replication attempts for small effects, as initially reported in these two studies, and suggest that the results would be most helpful in the context of estimation and future meta-analytical efforts. Our findings underscore the value of a narrow approach in replication of brain-behavior relationships, one that is focused enough to investigate the specifics of what is measured. This approach can provide a complementary perspective to the more popular "thematic" alternative, in which conclusions are often broader but where conclusions may become disconnected from the evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rankin W McGugin
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, 111 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37240, USA
| | - Alexandra Roche
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, 111 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37240, USA
| | - Jonathan Ma
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, 111 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37240, USA
| | - Isabel Gauthier
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, 111 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37240, USA.
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Viejo-Romero M, Whalley HC, Shen X, Stolicyn A, Smith DJ, Howard DM. An epidemiological study of season of birth, mental health, and neuroimaging in the UK Biobank. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300449. [PMID: 38776272 PMCID: PMC11111058 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Environmental exposures during the perinatal period are known to have a long-term effect on adult physical and mental health. One such influential environmental exposure is the time of year of birth which affects the amount of daylight, nutrients, and viral load that an individual is exposed to within this key developmental period. Here, we investigate associations between season of birth (seasonality), four mental health traits (n = 137,588) and multi-modal neuroimaging measures (n = 33,212) within the UK Biobank. Summer births were associated with probable recurrent Major Depressive Disorder (β = 0.026, pcorr = 0.028) and greater mean cortical thickness in temporal and occipital lobes (β = 0.013 to 0.014, pcorr<0.05). Winter births were associated with greater white matter integrity globally, in the association fibers, thalamic radiations, and six individual tracts (β = -0.013 to -0.022, pcorr<0.05). Results of sensitivity analyses adjusting for birth weight were similar, with an additional association between winter birth and white matter microstructure in the forceps minor and between summer births, greater cingulate thickness and amygdala volume. Further analyses revealed associations between probable depressive phenotypes and a range of neuroimaging measures but a paucity of interactions with seasonality. Our results suggest that seasonality of birth may affect later-life brain structure and play a role in lifetime recurrent Major Depressive Disorder. Due to the small effect sizes observed, and the lack of associations with other mental health traits, further research is required to validate birth season effects in the context of different latitudes, and by co-examining genetic and epigenetic measures to reveal informative biological pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Viejo-Romero
- Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Heather C. Whalley
- Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Xueyi Shen
- Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Aleks Stolicyn
- Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel J. Smith
- Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - David M. Howard
- Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Institute of Psychiatry, Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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Chen S, Yin Y, Zhang Y, Jiang W, Hou Z, Yuan Y. Childhood abuse influences clinical features of major depressive disorder by modulating the functional network of the right amygdala subregions. Asian J Psychiatr 2024; 93:103946. [PMID: 38330856 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.103946] [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: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Childhood trauma and the amygdala play essential roles in major depressive disorder (MDD) mechanisms. However, the neurobiological mechanism among them remains unclear. Therefore, we explored the relationship among the amygdala subregion's abnormal functional connectivity (FC), clinical features, and childhood trauma in MDD. We obtained resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 115 MDD patients and 91 well-matched healthy controls (HC). Amygdala subregions were defined according to the Human Brainnetome Atlas. The case vs. control difference in FCs was extracted. After controlling for age, sex, and education years, the mediations between the detected abnormal FCs and clinical features were analyzed, including the onset age of MDD and the Hamilton Depression Scale-24 (HAMD-24) reductive rate. Compared with HC subjects, we found, only the right amygdala subregions, namely the right medial amygdala (mAmyg.R) and the right lateral amygdala (lAmyg.R), showed a significant decrease in whole-brain FCs in MDD patients. Only childhood abuse experiences were significantly associated with amygdala subregion connectivity and clinical features in MDD patients. Additionally, The FCs between the mAmyg.R and extensive frontal, temporal, and subcortical regions mediated between the early life abuses and disease onset or treatment outcome. The findings indicate that the abnormal connectivity of the right amygdala subregions is involved in MDD's pathogenesis and clinical characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzhen Chen
- Department of Psychosomatics, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yingying Yin
- Department of Psychosomatics, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuqun Zhang
- School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenhao Jiang
- Department of Psychosomatics, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhenghua Hou
- Department of Psychosomatics, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yonggui Yuan
- Department of Psychosomatics, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
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van de Weijer MP, Vermeulen J, Schrantee A, Munafò MR, Verweij KJH, Treur JL. The potential role of gray matter volume differences in the association between smoking and depression: A narrative review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 156:105497. [PMID: 38100958 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105497] [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] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Tobacco use and major depression are both leading contributors to the global burden of disease and are also highly comorbid. Previous research indicates bi-directional causality between tobacco use and depression, but the mechanisms that underlie this causality are unclear, especially for the causality from tobacco use to depression. Here we narratively review the available evidence for a potential causal role of gray matter volume in the association. We summarize the findings of large existing neuroimaging meta-analyses, studies in UK Biobank, and the Enhancing NeuroImaging Genetics through MetaAnalysis (ENIGMA) consortium and assess the overlap in implicated brain areas. In addition, we review two types of methods that allow us more insight into the causal nature of associations between brain volume and depression/smoking: longitudinal studies and Mendelian Randomization studies. While the available evidence suggests overlap in the alterations in brain volumes implicated in tobacco use and depression, there is a lack of research examining the underlying pathophysiology. We conclude with recommendations on (genetically-informed) causal inference methods useful for studying these associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margot P van de Weijer
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Jentien Vermeulen
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anouk Schrantee
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marcus R Munafò
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, the United Kingdom
| | - Karin J H Verweij
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jorien L Treur
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Ternovoy S, Ustyuzhanin D, Shariya M, Beliaevskaia A, Roldan-Valadez E, Shishorin R, Akhapkin R, Volel B. Recognition of Facial Emotion Expressions in Patients with Depressive Disorders: A Functional MRI Study. Tomography 2023; 9:529-540. [PMID: 36961002 PMCID: PMC10037615 DOI: 10.3390/tomography9020043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study evaluated the cortical activation during emotional information recognition. METHODS The study group included 16 patients with depression, and 16 healthy subjects were enrolled as a control group. Patients received eight weeks of antidepressant therapy. Functional MRI evaluated the cortical activation twice in the patient group and once in the control group. The fMRI task processed the emotional information with face demonstration from the PennCNP test battery. RESULTS During the processing of emotional information, patients showed activation in the middle and the inferior frontal gyri, the fusiform gyrus, and the occipital cortex. After treatment, patients showed a significant decrease in the frontal cortex activation for negative face demonstration and no frontal activation for positive emotion recognition. The left superior temporal gyrus activation zone appeared in patients after treatment and in the control group. Healthy subjects showed more intense frontal cortex activation when processing neutral emotions and less when showing happy and sad faces. Activation zones in the amygdala and the insula and deactivation zones in the posterior cingulate cortex were revealed in the controls. CONCLUSION This study confirms the hypothesis that anomalies in the processing of emotional stimuli can be a sign of a depressive disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Ternovoy
- National Medical Research Center of Cardiology, 121552 Moscow, Russia
- I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119435 Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Merab Shariya
- National Medical Research Center of Cardiology, 121552 Moscow, Russia
- I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119435 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alena Beliaevskaia
- National Medical Research Center of Cardiology, 121552 Moscow, Russia
- I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119435 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ernesto Roldan-Valadez
- I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119435 Moscow, Russia
- Directorate of Research, Hospital General de Mexico "Dr Eduardo Liceaga", Mexico City 06720, Mexico
| | - Rodion Shishorin
- I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119435 Moscow, Russia
| | - Roman Akhapkin
- Serbsky National Medical Research Center of Psychiatry and Narcology, 119034 Moscow, Russia
| | - Beatrice Volel
- I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119435 Moscow, Russia
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Zhang R, Volkow ND. Seasonality of brain function: role in psychiatric disorders. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:65. [PMID: 36813773 PMCID: PMC9947162 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02365-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Seasonality patterns are reported in various psychiatric disorders. The current paper summarizes findings on brain adaptations associated with seasonal changes, factors that contribute to individual differences and their implications for psychiatric disorders. Changes in circadian rhythms are likely to prominently mediate these seasonal effects since light strongly entrains the internal clock modifying brain function. Inability of circadian rhythms to accommodate to seasonal changes might increase the risk for mood and behavior problems as well as worse clinical outcomes in psychiatric disorders. Understanding the mechanisms that account for inter-individual variations in seasonality is relevant to the development of individualized prevention and treatment for psychiatric disorders. Despite promising findings, seasonal effects are still understudied and only controlled as a covariate in most brain research. Rigorous neuroimaging studies with thoughtful experimental designs, powered sample sizes and high temporal resolution alongside deep characterization of the environment are needed to better understand the seasonal adaptions of the human brain as a function of age, sex, and geographic latitude and to investigate the mechanisms underlying the alterations in seasonal adaptation in psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1013, USA.
| | - Nora D. Volkow
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Laboratory of Neuroimaging, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1013 USA
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