title: A large-scale perspective on stress-induced alterations in resting-state networks.
abstract: Stress is known to induce large-scale neural modulations. However, its neural effect once the stressor is removed and how it relates to subjective experience are not fully understood. Here we used a statistically sound data-driven approach to investigate alterations in large-scale resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) induced by acute social stress. We compared rsfMRI profiles of 57 healthy male subjects before and after stress induction. Using a parcellation-based univariate statistical analysis, we identified a large-scale rsFC change, involving 490 parcel-pairs. Aiming to characterize this change, we employed statistical enrichment analysis, identifying anatomic structures that were significantly interconnected by these pairs. This analysis revealed strengthening of thalamo-cortical connectivity and weakening of cross-hemispheral parieto-temporal connectivity. These alterations were further found to be associated with change in subjective stress reports. Integrating report-based information on stress sustainment 20 minutes post induction, revealed a single significant rsFC change between the right amygdala and the precuneus, which inversely correlated with the level of subjective recovery. Our study demonstrates the value of enrichment analysis for exploring large-scale network reorganization patterns, and provides new insight on stress-induced neural modulations and their relation to subjective experience.
authors.affiliation: Functional Brain Center, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, 6 Weizmann Street, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel.|Physiology and Pharmacology Department, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.|Blavatnik School of Computer Science, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors.forename: Adi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maron-Katz
authors.affiliation: Functional Brain Center, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, 6 Weizmann Street, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel.|Physiology and Pharmacology Department, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.|Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vaisvaser
authors.affiliation: Functional Brain Center, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, 6 Weizmann Street, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel.|School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Functional Brain Center, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, 6 Weizmann Street, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel.|Physiology and Pharmacology Department, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.|Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.|School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors.forename: Talma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hendler
authors.affiliation: Blavatnik School of Computer Science, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.|Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shamir