Claudio Imperatori1, Benedetto Farina1, Mauro Adenzato2, Enrico Maria Valenti3, Cristina Murgia1, Giacomo Della Marca4, Riccardo Brunetti1, Elena Fontana5, Rita B Ardito6. 1. Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 2. Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: mauro.adenzato@unito.it. 3. Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 4. Sleep Disorders Unit, Institute of Neurology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. 5. Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. 6. Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although several researches investigated Default Mode Network (DMN) alterations in individuals with anxiety disorders, up to now no studies have investigated DMN functional connectivity in non-clinical individuals with high-trait-anxiety using quantitative electroencephalography (EEG). Here, the main aim was to extend previous findings investigating the association between trait anxiety and DMN EEG functional connectivity. METHODS: Twenty-three individuals with high-trait-anxiety and twenty-four controls were enrolled. EEG was recorded during 5 min of resting state (RS). EEG analyses were conducted by means of the exact Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography software (eLORETA). RESULTS: Compared to controls, individuals with high-trait-anxiety showed a decrease of theta connectivity between right medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and right posterior cingulate/retrosplenial cortex. A decrease of beta connectivity was also observed between right mPFC and right anterior cingulate cortex. Furthermore, DMN functional connectivity strength was negatively related with STAI-T total score (i.e., lower connectivity was associated with higher trait anxiety), even when controlling for potential confounding variables (i.e., sex, age, and general psychopathology). LIMITATIONS: Small sample size makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Furthermore, we did not assess state variation of anxiety, which make our interpretation specific to trait anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results suggest that high-trait-anxiety individuals fail to synchronize DMN during RS, reflecting a possible top-down cognitive control deficit. These results may help in the understanding of the individual differences in functional brain networks associated with trait anxiety, a crucial aim in the prevention and in the early etiology understanding of clinical anxiety and related sequelae.
BACKGROUND: Although several researches investigated Default Mode Network (DMN) alterations in individuals with anxiety disorders, up to now no studies have investigated DMN functional connectivity in non-clinical individuals with high-trait-anxiety using quantitative electroencephalography (EEG). Here, the main aim was to extend previous findings investigating the association between trait anxiety and DMN EEG functional connectivity. METHODS: Twenty-three individuals with high-trait-anxiety and twenty-four controls were enrolled. EEG was recorded during 5 min of resting state (RS). EEG analyses were conducted by means of the exact Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography software (eLORETA). RESULTS: Compared to controls, individuals with high-trait-anxiety showed a decrease of theta connectivity between right medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and right posterior cingulate/retrosplenial cortex. A decrease of beta connectivity was also observed between right mPFC and right anterior cingulate cortex. Furthermore, DMN functional connectivity strength was negatively related with STAI-T total score (i.e., lower connectivity was associated with higher trait anxiety), even when controlling for potential confounding variables (i.e., sex, age, and general psychopathology). LIMITATIONS: Small sample size makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Furthermore, we did not assess state variation of anxiety, which make our interpretation specific to trait anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results suggest that high-trait-anxiety individuals fail to synchronize DMN during RS, reflecting a possible top-down cognitive control deficit. These results may help in the understanding of the individual differences in functional brain networks associated with trait anxiety, a crucial aim in the prevention and in the early etiology understanding of clinical anxiety and related sequelae.
Authors: Femke Lammertink; Martijn P van den Heuvel; Erno J Hermans; Jeroen Dudink; Maria L Tataranno; Manon J N L Benders; Christiaan H Vinkers Journal: Transl Psychiatry Date: 2022-06-18 Impact factor: 7.989