title: A network of amygdala connections predict individual differences in trait anxiety.
abstract: In this study we demonstrate that the pattern of an amygdala-centric network contributes to individual differences in trait anxiety. Individual differences in trait anxiety were predicted using maximum likelihood estimates of amygdala structural connectivity to multiple brain targets derived from diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) and probabilistic tractography on 72 participants. The prediction was performed using a stratified sixfold cross validation procedure using a regularized least square regression model. The analysis revealed a reliable network of regions predicting individual differences in trait anxiety. Higher trait anxiety was associated with stronger connections between the amygdala and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, an area implicated in the generation of emotional reactions, and inferior temporal gyrus and paracentral lobule, areas associated with perceptual and sensory processing. In contrast, higher trait anxiety was associated with weaker connections between amygdala and regions implicated in extinction learning such as medial orbitofrontal cortex, and memory encoding and environmental context recognition, including posterior cingulate cortex and parahippocampal gyrus. Thus, trait anxiety is not only associated with reduced amygdala connectivity with prefrontal areas associated with emotion modulation, but also enhanced connectivity with sensory areas. This work provides novel anatomical insight into potential mechanisms behind information processing biases observed in disorders of emotion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: Steven G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Greening
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.|Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.|Neuroscience Program, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.|Brain and Mind Institute, Natural Sciences Centre, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.|Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Science, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Derek G V
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000473:pathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000473:pathology*; D011336:Probability; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: amygdala; diffusion tensor imaging; emotion regulation; extinction; medial prefrontal cortex; probabilistic tractography; trait anxiety