title: Resting state connectivity of the medial prefrontal cortex covaries with individual differences in high-frequency heart rate variability.
abstract: Resting high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) relates to cardiac vagal control and predicts individual differences in health and longevity, but its functional neural correlates are not well defined. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) encompasses visceral control regions that are components of intrinsic networks of the brain, particularly the default mode network (DMN) and the salience network (SN). Might individual differences in resting HF-HRV covary with resting state neural activity in the DMN and SN, particularly within the mPFC? This question was addressed using fMRI data from an eyes-open, 5-min rest period during which echoplanar brain imaging yielded BOLD time series. Independent component analysis yielded functional connectivity estimates defining the DMN and SN. HF-HRV was measured in a rest period outside of the scanner. Midlife (52% female) adults were assessed in two studies (Study 1, N = 107; Study 2, N = 112). Neither overall DMN nor SN connectivity strength was related to HF-HRV. However, HF-HRV related to connectivity of one region within mPFC shared by the DMN and SN, namely, the perigenual anterior cingulate cortex, an area with connectivity to other regions involved in autonomic control. In sum, HF-HRV does not seem directly related to global resting state activity of intrinsic brain networks, but rather to more localized connectivity. A mPFC region was of particular interest as connectivity related to HF-HRV was shared by the DMN and SN. These findings may indicate a functional basis for the coordination of autonomic cardiac control with engagement and disengagement from the environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.|Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: J Richard
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Lei K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Dora C-H
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Kuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Manuck
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gianaros
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Default mode network; High-frequency heart rate variability; Resting state fMRI; Salience network