title: Functional and structural connectivity of the amygdala in obsessive-compulsive disorder.
abstract: The amygdala is known to be involved in anxiety processing, but its role in the psychopathology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is still unclear.
  
  
  
  In this MRI study we investigated potential alterations in structural and functional connectivity of the amygdala in 42 adult patients with OCD and 37 healthy subjects.
  
  
  
  Psychophysiological interaction analysis was used to explore amygdala functional connectivity during a negative affective task. Probabilistic tractography was then employed to study structural connectivity and integrity of underlying white matter fiber tracts.
  
  
  
  Compared to controls, OCD patients showed a significantly increased functional connectivity of the left amygdala with mostly parieto-occipital regions during task. No structural connectivity differences could be found between the groups. In addition, only patients showed a significant association between functional and structural connectivity of these regions. Moreover, symptom severity was negatively associated with structural integrity of the underlying white matter tracts.
  
  
  
  Present results emphasize the relevance of the amygdala for OCD and may reflect that neuronal alterations in structural connectivity could be associated with functional connectivity alterations in broader networks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstrasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC) of Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences GSN, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Biocenter, Groβhaderner Strasse 2, 82152 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Oana Georgiana
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Rus
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstrasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC) of Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences GSN, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Biocenter, Groβhaderner Strasse 2, 82152 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Tim Jonas
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Reess
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Philosophenweg 3, 07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstrasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zimmer
authors.affiliation: Windach Institute and Hospital of Neurobehavioural Research and Therapy (WINTR), Windach, Schützenstraße 100, 86949 Windach, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaudig
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstrasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC) of Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences GSN, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Biocenter, Groβhaderner Strasse 2, 82152 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D063132:Connectome / Q000379:methods*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: DTI; Functional connectivity; OCD; Obsessive-compulsive disorder; SC, structural connectivity; Structural connectivity; WM tract, white matter tract; gPPI; probFT, probabilistic fiber tracking; restFC, resting state functional connectivity; taskFC, task dependent functional connectivity