title: Higher locus coeruleus MRI contrast is associated with lower parasympathetic influence over heart rate variability.
abstract: The locus coeruleus (LC) is a key node of the sympathetic nervous system and suppresses parasympathetic activity that would otherwise increase heart rate variability. In the current study, we examined whether LC-MRI contrast reflecting neuromelanin accumulation in the LC was associated with high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV), a measure reflecting parasympathetic influences on the heart. Recent evidence indicates that neuromelanin, a byproduct of catecholamine metabolism, accumulates in the LC through young and mid adulthood, suggesting that LC-MRI contrast may be a useful biomarker of individual differences in habitual LC activation. We found that, across younger and older adults, greater LC-MRI contrast was negatively associated with HF-HRV during fear conditioning and spatial detection tasks. This correlation was not accounted for by individual differences in age or anxiety. These findings indicate that individual differences in LC structure relate to key cardiovascular parameters.
authors.affiliation: Emotion and Cognition Lab, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA. Electronic address: mara.mather@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mather
authors.affiliation: Emotion and Cognition Lab, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Joo Yoo
authors.affiliation: Emotion and Cognition Lab, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
authors.forename: David V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Clewett
authors.affiliation: Emotion and Cognition Lab, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
authors.forename: Tae-Ho
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Emotion and Cognition Lab, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
authors.forename: Steven G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Greening
authors.affiliation: Emotion and Cognition Lab, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ponzio
authors.affiliation: Emotion and Cognition Lab, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
authors.forename: Jungwon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Julian F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Thayer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008875:Middle Aged; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003287:Contrast Media; D008543:Melanins; C014121:neuromelanin
keywords: Anxiety; HRV; Locus coeruleus; Neuromelanin; Parasympathetic system; Stress