Intranetwork and internetwork functional connectivity alterations in post-traumatic stress disorder.
BACKGROUND
A large number of previous neuroimaging studies have explored the functional alterations of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, abnormalities in the functional architecture of resting-state networks in PTSD were rarely elucidated.


METHODS
This study used independent component analysis to explore the resting-state intranetwork and internetwork functional connectivity differences between 20 PTSD patients and 20 matched healthy controls (HCs).


RESULTS
Selective alterations of intranetwork and internetwork intrinsic functional connectivities were found in the PTSD patients. Compared with HCs, the PTSD patients exhibited significantly decreased network connectivity within the anterior default mode network, posterior default mode network (pDMN), salience network (SN), sensory-motor network, and auditory network. Furthermore, the PTSD patients exhibited increased internetwork connectivity between SN and pDMN.


CONCLUSIONS
This study lacked recruitment of trauma-exposed HCs, which limits our ability to determine whether the alterations are caused by PTSD or trauma exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggested that the PTSD patients exhibited abnormal functional connectivity at the brain network level. Notably, the enhanced internetwork connectivity between SN and pDMN in the PTSD patients may be associated with hyperarousal and heightened anxiety in PTSD.
Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China.
Youxue
Y
Zhang
Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China.
Feng
F
Liu
Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China.
Heng
H
Chen
Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China.
Meiling
M
Li
Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China.
Xujun
X
Duan
Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China; Department of Anatomy, Third Military Medical University, 30 Gaotanyan Street, Chongqing 400038, China. Electronic address: xiebing6@gmail.com.
Bing
B
Xie
Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China. Electronic address: chenhf@uestc.edu.cn.
Huafu
H
Chen
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology*
Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Independent component analysis; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Resting-state network