title: The influence of interoceptive awareness on functional connectivity in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by visceral hypersensitivity likely related to altered processing of sensory stimuli along the brain-gut axis. Previous neuroimaging studies demonstrated structural and functional alteration of several brain areas involved in bodily representation, e.g. the insula, in patients with IBS. By means of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) we searched for alteration of functional connectivity within the network involved in self-bodily consciousness. We found significant inverse correlation between hypochondriasis assessed through a clinical questionnaire and connectivity between posterior cingulate cortex and left supramarginal gyrus, extending into the adjacent superior temporal gyrus. Moreover, we observed a significant and positive correlation between a clinical questionnaire assessing interoception and connectivity between left anterior ventral insula and two clusters located in supramarginal gyrus bilaterally.Our findings highlight an "abnormal network synchrony" reflecting functional alteration, in the absence of structural and micro-structural changes, which might represent a possible therapeutic target for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico, 31, Caserta, Italy. mariachiara.longarzo@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Mariachiara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Longarzo
authors.affiliation: National Research Council, Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quarantelli
authors.affiliation: IRCCS SDN, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aiello
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepato-Gastroenterology Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepato-Gastroenterology Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Del Prete
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico, 31, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cimminiello
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cocozza
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Olivo
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepato-Gastroenterology Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loguercio
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico, 31, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trojano
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico, 31, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grossi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D065812:Interoception; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Default-mode network; Functional connectivity; Insula; Interoception; Irritable bowel syndrome; Rs-fMRI