title: Intrinsic functional connectivity of the central nucleus of the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis.
abstract: The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), two nuclei within the central extended amygdala, function as critical relays within the distributed neural networks that coordinate sensory, emotional, and cognitive responses to threat. These structures have overlapping anatomical projections to downstream targets that initiate defensive responses. Despite these commonalities, researchers have also proposed a functional dissociation between the CeA and BNST, with the CeA promoting responses to discrete stimuli and the BNST promoting responses to diffuse threat. Intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC) provides a means to investigate the functional architecture of the brain, unbiased by task demands. Using ultra-high field neuroimaging (7-Tesla fMRI), which provides increased spatial resolution, this study compared the iFC networks of the CeA and BNST in 27 healthy individuals. Both structures were coupled with areas of the medial prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, and periaqueductal gray matter. Compared to the BNST, the bilateral CeA was more strongly coupled with the insula and regions that support sensory processing, including thalamus and fusiform gyrus. In contrast, the bilateral BNST was more strongly coupled with regions involved in cognitive and motivational processes, including the dorsal paracingulate gyrus, posterior cingulate cortex, and striatum. Collectively, these findings suggest that responses to sensory stimulation are preferentially coordinated by the CeA and cognitive and motivational responses are preferentially coordinated by the BNST.
authors.affiliation: Section on the Neurobiology of Fear & Anxiety, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA. Electronic address: axgorka@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Adam X
authors.initials: AX
authors.lastname: Gorka
authors.affiliation: Section on the Neurobiology of Fear & Anxiety, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torrisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 USA.
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Shackman
authors.affiliation: Section on the Neurobiology of Fear & Anxiety, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grillon
authors.affiliation: Section on the Neurobiology of Fear & Anxiety, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA.
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ernst
mesh_terms: D066274:Central Amygdaloid Nucleus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D063132:Connectome / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: 7-Tesla fMRI; Bed nucleus of the stria terminalis BNST; Central nucleus of the amygdala; Intrinsic functional connectivity; Resting state networks