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Konicar L, Prillinger K, Klöbl M, Lanzenberger R, Antal A, Plener PL. Brain Stimulation for Emotion Regulation in Adolescents With Psychiatric Disorders: Study Protocol for a Clinical-Transdiagnostical, Randomized, Triple-Blinded and Sham-Controlled Neurotherapeutic Trial. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:840836. [PMID: 35546931 PMCID: PMC9082670 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.840836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anxiety, conduct and depressive disorders represent three highly prevalent psychiatric conditions in adolescents. A shared underpinning of these disorders is a shortcoming in emotion regulation, connected to the functioning of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Thus, an intervention able to target the suggested neural correlate seems to be highly desirable, aiming to hinder a maladaptive development of emotion regulation abilities and chronification of associated psychiatric disorders. As transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was repeatedly demonstrated as a safe and non-invasive method to modulate specific brain activity, research is in demand to evaluate neurotherapeutic applications in adolescents with psychiatric disorders. METHOD This transdiagnostic, randomized, triple-blind and sham-controlled clinical neurostimulation trial primary aims to investigate if emotion regulation abilities are increased after tDCS in adolescents with psychiatric disorders. Secondly, disorder-specific changes in the anxiety, depression or conduct disorder will be investigated, as well as changes in quality of life, and cognitive and emotional functioning after tDCS intervention. We will include 108 adolescents with psychiatric disorders, displaying a substantial deficit in emotion regulation. Of these, one third each has to be primarily diagnosed with a depressive, anxiety or conduct disorder, respectively. Participants will be randomized to the experimental group (n = 54) receiving real anodal tDCS, or to the control group (n = 54) receiving sham tDCS. Brain stimulation will be applied for 20 min on five consecutive days twice targeting the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). Changes in emotion regulation, together with changes in disorder-specific clinical symptoms will be recorded by multi-informant psychological ratings. To inspect changes in behavior and gaze, computerized tasks and an eye tracker system will be used. Changes in brain responses to emotional and cognitive stimuli will be examined with three functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigms. In addition, a resting state MRI will be acquired to investigate possible changes in brain connectivity. DISCUSSION By investigating "emotion regulation" as transdiagnostic treatment target, this project is oriented toward the Research Domain Criteria framework with a dimensional view on mental illness. The study aims at investigating the potential of tDCS as non-invasive intervention for depressive, anxiety and conduct disorders in adolescents and broadening the scientific foundation for its clinical application. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION The study is ongoing and has been registered in the German Registry of Clinical Trials (DRKS-ID: DRKS00025601X) on the 28.06.2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Konicar
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Prillinger
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Manfred Klöbl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Antal
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Paul L Plener
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Child and Adolescents Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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Bas‐Hoogendam JM, Groenewold NA, Aghajani M, Freitag GF, Harrewijn A, Hilbert K, Jahanshad N, Thomopoulos SI, Thompson PM, Veltman DJ, Winkler AM, Lueken U, Pine DS, Wee NJA, Stein DJ, Agosta F, Åhs F, An I, Alberton BAV, Andreescu C, Asami T, Assaf M, Avery SN, Nicholas L, Balderston, Barber JP, Battaglia M, Bayram A, Beesdo‐Baum K, Benedetti F, Berta R, Björkstrand J, Blackford JU, Blair JR, Karina S, Blair, Boehme S, Brambilla P, Burkhouse K, Cano M, Canu E, Cardinale EM, Cardoner N, Clauss JA, Cividini C, Critchley HD, Udo, Dannlowski, Deckert J, Demiralp T, Diefenbach GJ, Domschke K, Doruyter A, Dresler T, Erhardt A, Fallgatter AJ, Fañanás L, Brandee, Feola, Filippi CA, Filippi M, Fonzo GA, Forbes EE, Fox NA, Fredrikson M, Furmark T, Ge T, Gerber AJ, Gosnell SN, Grabe HJ, Grotegerd D, Gur RE, Gur RC, Harmer CJ, Harper J, Heeren A, Hettema J, Hofmann D, Hofmann SG, Jackowski AP, Andreas, Jansen, Kaczkurkin AN, Kingsley E, Kircher T, Kosti c M, Kreifelts B, Krug A, Larsen B, Lee S, Leehr EJ, Leibenluft E, Lochner C, Maggioni E, Makovac E, Mancini M, Manfro GG, Månsson KNT, Meeten F, Michałowski J, Milrod BL, Mühlberger A, Lilianne R, Mujica‐Parodi, Munjiza A, Mwangi B, Myers M, Igor Nenadi C, Neufang S, Nielsen JA, Oh H, Ottaviani C, Pan PM, Pantazatos SP, Martin P, Paulus, Perez‐Edgar K, Peñate W, Perino MT, Peterburs J, Pfleiderer B, Phan KL, Poletti S, Porta‐Casteràs D, Price RB, Pujol J, Andrea, Reinecke, Rivero F, Roelofs K, Rosso I, Saemann P, Salas R, Salum GA, Satterthwaite TD, Schneier F, Schruers KRJ, Schulz SM, Schwarzmeier H, Seeger FR, Smoller JW, Soares JC, Stark R, Stein MB, Straube B, Straube T, Strawn JR, Suarez‐Jimenez B, Boris, Suchan, Sylvester CM, Talati A, Tamburo E, Tükel R, Heuvel OA, Van der Auwera S, Nieuwenhuizen H, Tol M, van Velzen LS, Bort CV, Vermeiren RRJM, Visser RM, Volman I, Wannemüller A, Wendt J, Werwath KE, Westenberg PM, Wiemer J, Katharina, Wittfeld, Wu M, Yang Y, Zilverstand A, Zugman A, Zwiebel HL. ENIGMA-anxiety working group: Rationale for and organization of large-scale neuroimaging studies of anxiety disorders. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:83-112. [PMID: 32618421 PMCID: PMC8805695 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent and disabling but seem particularly tractable to investigation with translational neuroscience methodologies. Neuroimaging has informed our understanding of the neurobiology of anxiety disorders, but research has been limited by small sample sizes and low statistical power, as well as heterogenous imaging methodology. The ENIGMA-Anxiety Working Group has brought together researchers from around the world, in a harmonized and coordinated effort to address these challenges and generate more robust and reproducible findings. This paper elaborates on the concepts and methods informing the work of the working group to date, and describes the initial approach of the four subgroups studying generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobia. At present, the ENIGMA-Anxiety database contains information about more than 100 unique samples, from 16 countries and 59 institutes. Future directions include examining additional imaging modalities, integrating imaging and genetic data, and collaborating with other ENIGMA working groups. The ENIGMA consortium creates synergy at the intersection of global mental health and clinical neuroscience, and the ENIGMA-Anxiety Working Group extends the promise of this approach to neuroimaging research on anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janna Marie Bas‐Hoogendam
- Department of Developmental and Educational PsychologyLeiden University, Institute of Psychology Leiden The Netherlands
- Department of PsychiatryLeiden University Medical Center Leiden The Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Nynke A. Groenewold
- Department of Psychiatry & Mental HealthUniversity of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
| | - Moji Aghajani
- Department of PsychiatryAmsterdam UMC / VUMC Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Department of Research & InnovationGGZ inGeest Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Gabrielle F. Freitag
- National Institute of Mental Health, Emotion and Development Branch Bethesda Maryland USA
| | - Anita Harrewijn
- National Institute of Mental Health, Emotion and Development Branch Bethesda Maryland USA
| | - Kevin Hilbert
- Department of PsychologyHumboldt‐Universität zu Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Neda Jahanshad
- University of Southern California Keck School of MedicineImaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute Los Angeles California USA
| | - Sophia I. Thomopoulos
- University of Southern California Keck School of MedicineImaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute Los Angeles California USA
| | - Paul M. Thompson
- University of Southern California Keck School of MedicineImaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute Los Angeles California USA
| | - Dick J. Veltman
- Department of PsychiatryAmsterdam UMC / VUMC Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Anderson M. Winkler
- National Institute of Mental Health, Emotion and Development Branch Bethesda Maryland USA
| | - Ulrike Lueken
- Department of PsychologyHumboldt‐Universität zu Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Daniel S. Pine
- National Institute of Mental Health, Emotion and Development Branch Bethesda Maryland USA
| | - Nic J. A. Wee
- Department of PsychiatryLeiden University Medical Center Leiden The Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Dan J. Stein
- Department of Psychiatry & Mental HealthUniversity of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
- University of Cape TownSouth African MRC Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders Cape Town South Africa
- University of Cape TownNeuroscience Institute Cape Town South Africa
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Winker C, Rehbein MA, Sabatinelli D, Junghofer M. Repeated noninvasive stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex reveals cumulative amplification of pleasant compared to unpleasant scene processing: A single subject pilot study. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0222057. [PMID: 31961881 PMCID: PMC6974138 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is a major hub of the reward system and has been shown to activate specifically in response to pleasant / rewarding stimuli. Previous studies demonstrate enhanced pleasant cue reactivity after single applications of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the vmPFC. Here we present a pilot case study in which we assess the cumulative impact of multiple consecutive vmPFC-tDCS sessions on the processing of visual emotional stimuli in an event-related MEG recording design. The results point to stable modulation of increased positivity biases (pleasant > unpleasant stimulus signal strength) after excitatory vmPFC stimulation and a reversed pattern (pleasant < unpleasant) after inhibitory stimulation across five consecutive tDCS sessions. Moreover, cumulative effects of these emotional bias modulations were observable for several source-localized spatio-temporal clusters, suggesting an increase in modulatory efficiency by repeated tDCS sessions. This pilot study provides evidence for improvements in the effectiveness and utility of a novel tDCS paradigm in the context of emotional processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantin Winker
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Maimu A. Rehbein
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Dean Sabatinelli
- Department of Psychology and BioImaging Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Markus Junghofer
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Winker C, Rehbein MA, Sabatinelli D, Dohn M, Maitzen J, Roesmann K, Wolters CH, Arolt V, Junghoefer M. Noninvasive Stimulation of the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex Indicates Valence Ambiguity in Sad Compared to Happy and Fearful Face Processing. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:83. [PMID: 31156403 PMCID: PMC6532016 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is known to be specifically involved in the processing of stimuli with pleasant, rewarding meaning to the observer. By the use of non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), it was previously possible to show evidence for this valence specificity and to modulate the impact of the vmPFC on emotional network processing. Prior results showed increased neural activation during pleasant relative to unpleasant stimulus processing after excitatory compared to inhibitory vmPFC-tDCS. As dysfunctional vmPFC activation patterns are associated with major depressive disorder (MDD), tDCS of this region could render an attractive application in future therapy. Here, we investigated vmPFC-tDCS effects on sad compared to happy face processing, as sad faces are often used in the study of mood disorders. After counterbalanced inhibitory or excitatory tDCS, respectively, healthy participants viewed happy and sad faces during magnetoencephalography (MEG) recording. In addition, tDCS effects on an interpretational bias of ambiguous happy-sad face morphs and an attentional bias of a dot-probe task with happy and sad faces as emotional primes were investigated. Finally, in conjoint analyses with data from a previous sibling study (happy and fearful faces) we examined whether excitatory vmPFC-tDCS would reveal a general increase in processing of pleasant stimuli independent of the type of unpleasant stimuli applied (sad vs. fearful faces). MEG and behavioral results showed that happy faces promoted a relative positivity bias after excitatory compared to inhibitory tDCS, visible in left orbitofrontal cortex and in the emotion-primed dot-probe task. A converse pattern in the MEG data during sad face processing suggests the possible involvement of an empathy network and thus significantly differed from neuronal processing of fearful face processing. Implications for the bearing of vmPFC modulation on emotional face processing and the impact of specific unpleasant face expressions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantin Winker
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.,Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Maimu A Rehbein
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.,Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Dean Sabatinelli
- Department of Psychology and BioImaging Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Mira Dohn
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Julius Maitzen
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Kati Roesmann
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.,Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Carsten H Wolters
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.,Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Volker Arolt
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Markus Junghoefer
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.,Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
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Kraaijenvanger EJ, He Y, Spencer H, Smith AK, Bos PA, Boks MP. Epigenetic variability in the human oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene: A possible pathway from early life experiences to psychopathologies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 96:127-142. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Revised: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/24/2018] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
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Klumpp H, Fitzgerald JM. Neuroimaging Predictors and Mechanisms of Treatment Response in Social Anxiety Disorder: an Overview of the Amygdala. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2018; 20:89. [PMID: 30155657 PMCID: PMC9278878 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-018-0948-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Aberrant amygdala activity is implicated in the neurobiology of social anxiety disorder (SAD) and is, therefore, a treatment target. However, the extent to which amygdala predicts clinical improvement or is impacted by treatment has not been critically examined. This review highlights recent neuroimaging findings from clinical trials and research that test links between amygdala and mechanisms of action. RECENT FINDINGS Neuropredictor studies largely comprised psychotherapy where improvement was foretold by amygdala activity and regions beyond amygdala such as frontal structures (e.g., anterior cingulate cortex, medial prefrontal cortex) and areas involved in visual processes (e.g., occipital regions, superior temporal gyrus). Pre-treatment functional connectivity between amygdala and frontal areas was also shown to predict improvement signifying circuits that support emotion processing and regulation interact with treatment. Pre-to-post studies revealed decreases in amygdala response and altered functional connectivity in amygdala pathways regardless of treatment modality. In analogue studies of fear exposure, greater reduction in anxiety was predicted by less amygdala response to a speech challenge and amygdala activity decreased following exposures. Yet, studies have also failed to detect amygdala effects reporting instead treatment-related changes in regions and functional systems that support sensory, emotion, and regulation processes. An array of regions in the corticolimbic subcircuits and extrastriate cortex appear to be viable sites of action. The amygdala and amygdala pathways predict treatment outcome and are altered following treatment. However, further study is needed to establish the role of the amygdala and other candidate regions and brain circuits as sites of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heide Klumpp
- Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1747 W. Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL, 60608, USA.
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De Witte NAJ, Mueller SC. White matter integrity in brain networks relevant to anxiety and depression: evidence from the human connectome project dataset. Brain Imaging Behav 2018; 11:1604-1615. [PMID: 27744495 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-016-9642-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Anxiety and depression are associated with altered communication within global brain networks and between these networks and the amygdala. Functional connectivity studies demonstrate an effect of anxiety and depression on four critical brain networks involved in top-down attentional control (fronto-parietal network; FPN), salience detection and error monitoring (cingulo-opercular network; CON), bottom-up stimulus-driven attention (ventral attention network; VAN), and default mode (default mode network; DMN). However, structural evidence on the white matter (WM) connections within these networks and between these networks and the amygdala is lacking. The current study in a large healthy sample (n = 483) observed that higher trait anxiety-depression predicted lower WM integrity in the connections between amygdala and specific regions of the FPN, CON, VAN, and DMN. We discuss the possible consequences of these anatomical alterations for cognitive-affective functioning and underscore the need for further theory-driven research on individual differences in anxiety and depression on brain structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nele A J De Witte
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Sven C Mueller
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
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Yang X, Liu J, Meng Y, Xia M, Cui Z, Wu X, Hu X, Zhang W, Gong G, Gong Q, Sweeney JA, He Y. Network analysis reveals disrupted functional brain circuitry in drug-naive social anxiety disorder. Neuroimage 2017; 190:213-223. [PMID: 29223742 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a common and disabling condition characterized by excessive fear and avoidance of public scrutiny. Psychoradiology studies have suggested that the emotional and behavior deficits in SAD are associated with abnormalities in regional brain function and functional connectivity. However, little is known about whether intrinsic functional brain networks in patients with SAD are topologically disrupted. Here, we collected resting-state fMRI data from 33 drug-naive patients with SAD and 32 healthy controls (HC), constructed functional networks with 34 predefined regions based on previous meta-analytic research with task-based fMRI in SAD, and performed network-based statistic and graph-theory analyses. The network-based statistic analysis revealed a single connected abnormal circuitry including the frontolimbic circuit (termed the "fear circuit", including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, ventral medial prefrontal cortex and insula) and posterior cingulate/occipital areas supporting perceptual processing. In this single altered network, patients with SAD had higher functional connectivity than HC. At the global level, graph-theory analysis revealed that the patients exhibited a lower normalized characteristic path length than HC, which suggests a disorder-related shift of network topology toward randomized configurations. SAD-related deficits in nodal degree, efficiency and participation coefficient were detected in the parahippocampal gyrus, posterior cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, insula and the calcarine sulcus. Aspects of abnormal connectivity were associated with anxiety symptoms. These findings highlight the aberrant topological organization of functional brain network organization in SAD, which provides insights into the neural mechanisms underlying excessive fear and avoidance of social interactions in patients with debilitating social anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Yang
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jin Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Yajing Meng
- Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Mingrui Xia
- National Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Zaixu Cui
- National Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Xi Wu
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xinyu Hu
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Gaolang Gong
- National Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Department of Psychology, School of Public Administration, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China.
| | - John A Sweeney
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45219, USA
| | - Yong He
- National Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
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Peng K, Steele SC, Becerra L, Borsook D. Brodmann area 10: Collating, integrating and high level processing of nociception and pain. Prog Neurobiol 2017; 161:1-22. [PMID: 29199137 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2017.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Multiple frontal cortical brain regions have emerged as being important in pain processing, whether it be integrative, sensory, cognitive, or emotional. One such region, Brodmann Area 10 (BA 10), is the largest frontal brain region that has been shown to be involved in a wide variety of functions including risk and decision making, odor evaluation, reward and conflict, pain, and working memory. BA 10, also known as the anterior prefrontal cortex, frontopolar prefrontal cortex or rostral prefrontal cortex, is comprised of at least two cytoarchitectonic sub-regions, medial and lateral. To date, the explicit role of BA 10 in the processing of pain hasn't been fully elucidated. In this paper, we first review the anatomical pathways and functional connectivity of BA 10. Numerous functional imaging studies of experimental or clinical pain have also reported brain activations and/or deactivations in BA 10 in response to painful events. The evidence suggests that BA 10 may play a critical role in the collation, integration and high-level processing of nociception and pain, but also reveals possible functional distinctions between the subregions of BA 10 in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Peng
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States.
| | - Sarah C Steele
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Lino Becerra
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Mclean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
| | - David Borsook
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Mclean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
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MacNamara A, DiGangi J, Phan KL. Aberrant Spontaneous and Task-Dependent Functional Connections in the Anxious Brain. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2016; 1:278-287. [PMID: 27141532 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2015.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
A number of brain regions have been implicated in the anxiety disorders, yet none of these regions in isolation has been distinguished as the sole or discrete site responsible for anxiety disorder pathology. Therefore, the identification of dysfunctional neural networks as represented by alterations in the temporal correlation of blood-oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal across several brain regions in anxiety disorders has been increasingly pursued in the past decade. Here, we review task-independent (e.g., resting state) and task-induced functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI) studies in the adult anxiety disorders (including trauma- and stressor-related and obsessive compulsive disorders). The results of this review suggest that anxiety disorder pathophysiology involves aberrant connectivity between amygdala-frontal and frontal-striatal regions, as well as within and between canonical "intrinsic" brain networks - the default mode and salience networks, and that evidence of these aberrations may help inform findings of regional activation abnormalities observed in the anxiety disorders. Nonetheless, significant challenges remain, including the need to better understand mixed findings observed using different methods (e.g., resting state and task-based approaches); the need for more developmental work; the need to delineate disorder-specific and transdiagnostic fcMRI aberrations in the anxiety disorders; and the need to better understand the clinical significance of fcMRI abnormalities. In meeting these challenges, future work has the potential to elucidate aberrant neural networks as intermediate, brain-based phenotypes to predict disease onset and progression, refine diagnostic nosology, and ascertain treatment mechanisms and predictors of treatment response across anxiety, trauma-related and obsessive compulsive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annmarie MacNamara
- Department of Psychiatry (AM, JD, KLP), University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL; Departments of Psychology and Anatomy and Cell Biology, and the Graduate Program in Neuroscience (KLP), University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL; Mental Health Service Line (JD, KLP), Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL
| | - Julia DiGangi
- Department of Psychiatry (AM, JD, KLP), University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL; Departments of Psychology and Anatomy and Cell Biology, and the Graduate Program in Neuroscience (KLP), University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL; Mental Health Service Line (JD, KLP), Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL
| | - K Luan Phan
- Department of Psychiatry (AM, JD, KLP), University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL; Departments of Psychology and Anatomy and Cell Biology, and the Graduate Program in Neuroscience (KLP), University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL; Mental Health Service Line (JD, KLP), Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL
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Eden AS, Dehmelt V, Bischoff M, Zwitserlood P, Kugel H, Keuper K, Zwanzger P, Dobel C. Brief learning induces a memory bias for arousing-negative words: an fMRI study in high and low trait anxious persons. Front Psychol 2015; 6:1226. [PMID: 26347689 PMCID: PMC4543815 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Persons suffering from anxiety disorders display facilitated processing of arousing and negative stimuli, such as negative words. This memory bias is reflected in better recall and increased amygdala activity in response to such stimuli. However, individual learning histories were not considered in most studies, a concern that we meet here. Thirty-four female persons (half with high-, half with low trait anxiety) participated in a criterion-based associative word-learning paradigm, in which neutral pseudowords were paired with aversive or neutral pictures, which should lead to a valence change for the negatively paired pseudowords. After learning, pseudowords were tested with fMRI to investigate differential brain activation of the amygdala evoked by the newly acquired valence. Explicit and implicit memory was assessed directly after training and in three follow-ups at 4-day intervals. The behavioral results demonstrate that associative word-learning leads to an explicit (but no implicit) memory bias for negatively linked pseudowords, relative to neutral ones, which confirms earlier studies. Bilateral amygdala activation underlines the behavioral effect: Higher trait anxiety is correlated with stronger amygdala activation for negatively linked pseudowords than for neutrally linked ones. Most interestingly, this effect is also present for negatively paired pseudowords that participants could not remember well. Moreover, neutrally paired pseudowords evoked higher amygdala reactivity than completely novel ones in highly anxious persons, which can be taken as evidence for generalization. These findings demonstrate that few word-learning trials generate a memory bias for emotional stimuli, indexed both behaviorally and neurophysiologically. Importantly, the typical memory bias for emotional stimuli and the generalization to neutral ones is larger in high anxious persons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annuschka S Eden
- Institute of Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University Hospital of Münster Münster, Germany ; Institute of Psychology, University of Münster Münster, Germany
| | - Vera Dehmelt
- Institute of Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University Hospital of Münster Münster, Germany ; Institute of Psychology, University of Münster Münster, Germany
| | - Matthias Bischoff
- Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Münster Münster, Germany
| | - Pienie Zwitserlood
- Department of Psycholinguistics and Cognitive Neurosciences, Institute of Psychology, University of Münster Münster, Germany
| | - Harald Kugel
- Department of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster Münster, Germany
| | - Kati Keuper
- University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Peter Zwanzger
- kbo-Inn-Salzach Clinic, Academic Hospital of Psychiatry, Psychotheray and Neurology Wasserburg am Inn, Germany
| | - Christian Dobel
- Institute of Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University Hospital of Münster Münster, Germany ; Department of Psychology, University of Bielefeld Bielefeld, Germany ; Department of Otolaryngology, Jena University Hospital Jena, Germany
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12
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Ziegler C, Dannlowski U, Bräuer D, Stevens S, Laeger I, Wittmann H, Kugel H, Dobel C, Hurlemann R, Reif A, Lesch KP, Heindel W, Kirschbaum C, Arolt V, Gerlach AL, Hoyer J, Deckert J, Zwanzger P, Domschke K. Oxytocin receptor gene methylation: converging multilevel evidence for a role in social anxiety. Neuropsychopharmacology 2015; 40:1528-38. [PMID: 25563749 PMCID: PMC4397412 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2014] [Revised: 11/21/2014] [Accepted: 11/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a commonly occurring and highly disabling disorder. The neuropeptide oxytocin and its receptor (OXTR) have been implicated in social cognition and behavior. This study-for the first time applying a multilevel epigenetic approach-investigates the role of OXTR gene methylation in categorical, dimensional, and intermediate neuroendocrinological/neural network phenotypes of social anxiety. A total of 110 unmedicated patients with SAD and matched 110 controls were analyzed for OXTR methylation by direct sequencing of sodium bisulfite-converted DNA extracted from whole blood. Furthermore, OXTR methylation was investigated regarding SAD-related traits (Social Phobia Scale (SPS) and Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS)), salivary cortisol response during the Trier social stress test (TSST), and amygdala responsiveness to social phobia related verbal stimuli using fMRI. Significantly decreased OXTR methylation particularly at CpG Chr3: 8 809 437 was associated with (1) the categorical phenotype of SAD (p<0.001, Cohen's d=0.535), (2) increased SPS and SIAS scores (p<0.001), (3) increased cortisol response to the TSST (p=0.02), and (4) increased amygdala responsiveness during social phobia-related word processing (right: p(corr)<0.001; left: p(corr)=0.005). Assuming that decreased OXTR methylation confers increased OXTR expression, the present finding may reflect a compensatory upregulation for pathologically reduced oxytocin levels or a causally relevant increased OXTR activation in SAD and related traits. OXTR methylation patterns might thus serve as peripheral surrogates of oxytocin tone and aid in establishing accessible biomarkers of SAD risk allowing for indicated preventive interventions and personalized treatment approaches targeting the oxytocin system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Udo Dannlowski
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - David Bräuer
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stephan Stevens
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Inga Laeger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Institute of Psychology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Hannah Wittmann
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Harald Kugel
- Department of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Christian Dobel
- Institute of Biogmagnetism and Biosignal Analysis, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - René Hurlemann
- Division of Medical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Andreas Reif
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Klaus-Peter Lesch
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Walter Heindel
- Department of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Clemens Kirschbaum
- Institute of Biopsychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Volker Arolt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Alexander L Gerlach
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jürgen Hoyer
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jürgen Deckert
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Peter Zwanzger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- kbo-Inn-Salzach-Klinikum, Wasserburg am Inn, Germany
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