Resting-state amygdala subregion and precuneus connectivity provide evidence for a dimensional approach to studying social anxiety disorder
Abstract Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a prevalent and disabling mental health condition, characterized by excessive fear and anxiety in social situations. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigms have been increasingly used to understand the neurobiological underpinni...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Publishing Group
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Translational Psychiatry |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-024-02844-9 |
| _version_ | 1797259012500094976 |
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| author | Simone Mizzi Mangor Pedersen Susan L. Rossell Peter Rendell Gill Terrett Markus Heinrichs Izelle Labuschagne |
| author_facet | Simone Mizzi Mangor Pedersen Susan L. Rossell Peter Rendell Gill Terrett Markus Heinrichs Izelle Labuschagne |
| author_sort | Simone Mizzi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a prevalent and disabling mental health condition, characterized by excessive fear and anxiety in social situations. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigms have been increasingly used to understand the neurobiological underpinnings of SAD in the absence of threat-related stimuli. Previous studies have primarily focused on the role of the amygdala in SAD. However, the amygdala consists of functionally and structurally distinct subregions, and recent studies have highlighted the importance of investigating the role of these subregions independently. Using multiband fMRI, we analyzed resting-state data from 135 participants (42 SAD, 93 healthy controls). By employing voxel-wise permutation testing, we examined group differences of fMRI connectivity and associations between fMRI connectivity and social anxiety symptoms to further investigate the classification of SAD as a categorical or dimensional construct. Seed-to-whole brain functional connectivity analysis using multiple ‘seeds’ including the amygdala and its subregions and the precuneus, revealed no statistically significant group differences. However, social anxiety severity was significantly negatively correlated with functional connectivity of the precuneus - perigenual anterior cingulate cortex and positively correlated with functional connectivity of the amygdala (specifically the superficial subregion) - parietal/cerebellar areas. Our findings demonstrate clear links between symptomatology and brain connectivity in the absence of diagnostic differences, with evidence of amygdala subregion-specific alterations. The observed brain-symptom associations did not include disturbances in the brain’s fear circuitry (i.e., disturbances in connectivity between amygdala - prefrontal regions) likely due to the absence of threat-related stimuli. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:02:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-77089d38d7214f5e803462e75de413f2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2158-3188 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:02:40Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Translational Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-77089d38d7214f5e803462e75de413f22024-03-17T12:39:08ZengNature Publishing GroupTranslational Psychiatry2158-31882024-03-0114111010.1038/s41398-024-02844-9Resting-state amygdala subregion and precuneus connectivity provide evidence for a dimensional approach to studying social anxiety disorderSimone Mizzi0Mangor Pedersen1Susan L. Rossell2Peter Rendell3Gill Terrett4Markus Heinrichs5Izelle Labuschagne6School of Health and Biomedical Science, RMIT UniversityDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, Auckland University of TechnologyCentre for Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of TechnologyHealthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioral and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic UniversityHealthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioral and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Albert-Ludwigs-University of FreiburgHealthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioral and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic UniversityAbstract Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a prevalent and disabling mental health condition, characterized by excessive fear and anxiety in social situations. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigms have been increasingly used to understand the neurobiological underpinnings of SAD in the absence of threat-related stimuli. Previous studies have primarily focused on the role of the amygdala in SAD. However, the amygdala consists of functionally and structurally distinct subregions, and recent studies have highlighted the importance of investigating the role of these subregions independently. Using multiband fMRI, we analyzed resting-state data from 135 participants (42 SAD, 93 healthy controls). By employing voxel-wise permutation testing, we examined group differences of fMRI connectivity and associations between fMRI connectivity and social anxiety symptoms to further investigate the classification of SAD as a categorical or dimensional construct. Seed-to-whole brain functional connectivity analysis using multiple ‘seeds’ including the amygdala and its subregions and the precuneus, revealed no statistically significant group differences. However, social anxiety severity was significantly negatively correlated with functional connectivity of the precuneus - perigenual anterior cingulate cortex and positively correlated with functional connectivity of the amygdala (specifically the superficial subregion) - parietal/cerebellar areas. Our findings demonstrate clear links between symptomatology and brain connectivity in the absence of diagnostic differences, with evidence of amygdala subregion-specific alterations. The observed brain-symptom associations did not include disturbances in the brain’s fear circuitry (i.e., disturbances in connectivity between amygdala - prefrontal regions) likely due to the absence of threat-related stimuli.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-024-02844-9 |
| spellingShingle | Simone Mizzi Mangor Pedersen Susan L. Rossell Peter Rendell Gill Terrett Markus Heinrichs Izelle Labuschagne Resting-state amygdala subregion and precuneus connectivity provide evidence for a dimensional approach to studying social anxiety disorder Translational Psychiatry |
| title | Resting-state amygdala subregion and precuneus connectivity provide evidence for a dimensional approach to studying social anxiety disorder |
| title_full | Resting-state amygdala subregion and precuneus connectivity provide evidence for a dimensional approach to studying social anxiety disorder |
| title_fullStr | Resting-state amygdala subregion and precuneus connectivity provide evidence for a dimensional approach to studying social anxiety disorder |
| title_full_unstemmed | Resting-state amygdala subregion and precuneus connectivity provide evidence for a dimensional approach to studying social anxiety disorder |
| title_short | Resting-state amygdala subregion and precuneus connectivity provide evidence for a dimensional approach to studying social anxiety disorder |
| title_sort | resting state amygdala subregion and precuneus connectivity provide evidence for a dimensional approach to studying social anxiety disorder |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-024-02844-9 |
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