title: Intrinsic Connectivity Networks in post-traumatic stress disorder during sub- and supraliminal processing of threat-related stimuli.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the functional connectivity of large-scale intrinsic connectivity networks (ICNs) in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during subliminal and supraliminal presentation of threat-related stimuli.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group independent component analysis was utilized to study functional connectivity within the ICNs most correlated with the Default-mode Network (DMN), Salience Network (SN), and Central Executive Network (CEN) in PTSD participants (n = 26) as compared to healthy controls (n = 20) during sub- and supraliminal processing of threat-related stimuli.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparing patients with PTSD with healthy participants, prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex involved in top-down regulation showed increased integration during subliminal threat processing within the CEN and SN and during supraliminal threat processing within the DMN. The right amygdala showed increased connectivity with the DMN during subliminal processing in PTSD as compared to controls. Brain regions associated with self-awareness and consciousness exhibited decreased connectivity during subliminal threat processing in PTSD as compared to controls: the claustrum within the SN and the precuneus within the DMN.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Key nodes of the ICNs showed altered functional connectivity in PTSD as compared to controls, and differential results characterized sub- and supraliminal processing of threat-related stimuli. These findings enhance our understanding of ICNs underlying PTSD at different levels of conscious threat perception.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Rabellino
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Tursich
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.|Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.|Department of Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors: P A
authors: PA
authors: Frewen
authors: Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors: J K
authors: JK
authors: Daniels
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Densmore
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.|Department of Medical Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Théberge
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.|Department of Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors: R A
authors: RA
authors: Lanius
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013360:Subliminal Stimulation
keywords: fMRI; intrinsic functional connectivity; post-traumatic stress disorder