Left and right amygdala - mediofrontal cortical functional connectivity is differentially modulated by harm avoidance.
BACKGROUND
The left and right amygdalae are key regions distinctly involved in emotion-regulation processes. Individual differences, such as personality features, may affect the implicated neurocircuits. The lateralized amygdala affective processing linked with the temperament dimension Harm Avoidance (HA) remains poorly understood. Resting state functional connectivity imaging (rsFC) may provide more insight into these neuronal processes.


METHODS
In 56 drug-naive healthy female subjects, we have examined the relationship between the personality dimension HA on lateralized amygdala rsFC.


RESULTS
Across all subjects, left and right amygdalae were connected with distinct regions mainly within the ipsilateral hemisphere. Females scoring higher on HA displayed stronger left amygdala rsFC with ventromedial prefrontal cortical (vmPFC) regions involved in affective disturbances. In high HA scorers, we also observed stronger right amygdala rsFC with the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), which is implicated in negative affect regulation.


CONCLUSIONS
In healthy females, left and right amygdalae seem implicated in distinct mPFC brain networks related to HA and may represent a vulnerability marker for sensitivity to stress and anxiety (disorders).
Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital (UZBrussel), Brussels, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent, Belgium.
Chris
C
Baeken
Department of Data Analysis, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Daniele
D
Marinazzo
Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University Hospital (UZBrussel), Brussels, Belgium.
Peter
P
Van Schuerbeek
Department of Data Analysis, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Guo-Rong
GR
Wu
Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University Hospital (UZBrussel), Brussels, Belgium.
Johan
J
De Mey
Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University Hospital (UZBrussel), Brussels, Belgium.
Robert
R
Luypaert
Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Rudi
R
De Raedt
D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000378:metabolism*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D040261:Harm Reduction / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult