title: Desynchronization of autonomic response and central autonomic network connectivity in posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: Although dysfunctional emotion regulatory capacities are increasingly recognized as contributing to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), little work has sought to identify biological markers of this vulnerability. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a promising biomarker that, together with neuroimaging, may assist in gaining a deeper understanding of emotion dysregulation in PTSD. The objective of the present study was, therefore, to characterize autonomic response patterns, and their related neuronal patterns in individuals with PTSD at rest.
  
  
  
  PTSD patients (N = 57) and healthy controls (N = 41) underwent resting-state fMRI. Connectivity patterns of key regions within the central autonomic network (CAN)-including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), amygdala, and periaqueductal gray (PAG)-were examined using a seed-based approach. Observed connectivity patterns were then correlated to resting HRV.
  
  
  
  In contrast to controls, individuals with PTSD exhibited lower HRV. In addition, whereas controls engaged a localized connectivity pattern of CAN-related brain regions, in PTSD, key CAN regions were associated with widespread connectivity patterns in regions related to emotional reactivity (vmPFC and amygdala to insular cortex and lentiform nucleus; PAG to insula) and motor readiness (vmPFC and amygdala to precentral gyrus; PAG to precentral gyrus and cerebellum). Critically, whereas CAN connectivity in controls was strongly related to higher HRV (insula, mPFC, superior frontal cortex, thalamus), HRV covariation was absent in PTSD subjects.
  
  
  
  This study provides the first evidence for a specific psychophysiological-neuronal profile in PTSD individuals characterized by lower resting HRV and a lack of HRV covariation with CAN-related brain connectivity. Hum Brain Mapp 38:27-40, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Medical Faculty Mannheim, Institute of Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thome
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Densmore
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.|Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.|Department of Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Frewen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Mc Master University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Margaret C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: McKinnon
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.|Department of Medical Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Théberge
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.|Section for Translational Psychobiology in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: Julian F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Thayer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.|Department of Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Ruth A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lanius
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D012146:Rest; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: central autonomic network; fMRI; heart rate variability; periaqueductal gray; posttraumatic stress disorder; top-down modulation