Abnormal functional-structural cingulum connectivity in mania: combined functional magnetic resonance imaging-diffusion tensor imaging investigation in different phases of bipolar disorder.
The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between structural connectivity (SC) and functional connectivity (FC) in the cingulum in bipolar disorder (BD) and its various phases.



We combined resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and probabilistic tractographic diffusion tensor imaging to investigate FC and SC of the cingulum and its portions, the SC-FC relationship, and their correlations with clinical and neurocognitive measures on sustained attention in manic (n = 21), depressed (n = 20), and euthymic (n = 20) bipolar patients and healthy controls (HC) (n = 42).



First, we found decreased FC between the anterior and posterior parts of the cingulum in manic patients when compared to depressed patients and HC. Second, we observed decreased SC of the cingulum bundle, particularly in its anterior part, in manic patients when compared to HC. Finally, alterations in the cingulum FC (but not SC) correlated with clinical severity scores while changes in the cingulum SC (but not FC) were related with neurocognitive deficits in sustained attention in BD.



We demonstrate for the first time a reduction in FC and concomitantly in SC of the cingulum in mania, which correlated with psychopathological and neurocognitive parameters, respectively, in BD. This supports the central role of cingulum connectivity specifically in mania.
Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
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M
Martino
Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. paola.magioncalda@gmail.com.
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P
Magioncalda
Department of Neurology, Radiology and Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
C
C
Saiote
Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
B
B
Conio
Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
A
A
Escelsior
Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
G
G
Rocchi
Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
N
N
Piaggio
Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
V
V
Marozzi
Mind, Brain Imaging, and Neuroethics, Royal's Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Z
Z
Huang
Mind, Brain Imaging, and Neuroethics, Royal's Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
F
F
Ferri
Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
M
M
Amore
Department of Neurology, Radiology and Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.|Magnetic Resonance Research Center on Nervous System Diseases, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.|Section of Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
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M
Inglese
Mind, Brain Imaging, and Neuroethics, Royal's Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.|University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, Centre for Neural Dynamics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.|Graduate Institute of Humanities in Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, Brain and Consciousness Research Center, New Taipei City, Taiwan.|National Chengchi University, Research Center for Mind, Brain and Learning, Taipei, Taiwan.|Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders (CCBD), Normal University Hangzhou, Hangzhou, China.|ITAB, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
G
G
Northoff
D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012146:Rest
affective disorders; bipolar disorder; magnetic resonance imaging; neuroimaging