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Liu Q, Song X, Zhou X, Huang L, Zhang X, Wang L, Zhu S, Lan C, Yang W, Zhao W. Regional superficial amygdala resting-state functional connectivity in adults infers childhood maltreatment severity. PSYCHORADIOLOGY 2023; 3:kkad004. [PMID: 38666120 PMCID: PMC11003424 DOI: 10.1093/psyrad/kkad004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Background Childhood maltreatment (CM) is a potential risk factor for some neuropsychiatric disorders in adulthood (e.g. depression and anxiety) and alters trajectories of brain development. Accumulating evidence suggests that functional connectivity of the limbic system, especially the amygdala, is highly associated with childhood maltreatment, although not all studies have found this. These inconsistent results may be due to differential alterations of amygdala resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) following childhood maltreatment. Objective Our aim was to investigate the relationship between the rsFC of amygdala subregions and CM severity, as well as to develop a stable rsFC-based model for inferring the severity of CM. Methods In this study, we employed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) to assess CM severity in each individual. We explored the relationship between the rsFC of amygdala subregions (i.e. centromedial -CMA, basolateral -BLA, superficial-SFA amygdala) and CM experience in a discovery dataset of n = 110 healthy Chinese participants by linear multiple regression analysis. Subsequent dimensional and categorical approach were performed to elucidate the relationship between rsFCs and CM severity and CM subtypes, respectively. A support vector regression model was then conducted to validate the associations between rsFCs and total CTQ scores. Moreover, we also verified the model into another independent replication dataset (n = 38). Results Our findings suggested that childhood maltreatment was negatively associated with rsFC between the right superficial amygdala and perigenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC)/postcentral gyrus (PCG) but not the other two amygdala subregions. Moreover, SFA-pgACC coupling was more associated with physical neglect whereas the SFA-PCG was more related to emotional neglect. In addition, supervised machine learning confirmed that using these two rsFCs as predictors could stably estimate continuous maltreatment severity in both discovery and replication datasets. Conclusion The current study supports that the rsFCs of superficial amygdala are related to childhood maltreatment and which may be a potential biomarker for the effects of childhood maltreatment-related psychiatric disorders (i.e. depression and anxiety).
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Liu
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Xinwei Song
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Xinqi Zhou
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610066, China
| | - Linghong Huang
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Xiaodong Zhang
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Lan Wang
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Siyu Zhu
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Chunmei Lan
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Wenxu Yang
- Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Weihua Zhao
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Institute of Electronic and Information Engineering of UESTC in Guangdong, Dongguan 523808, China
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Luders E, Kurth F, Poromaa IS. The Neuroanatomy of Pregnancy and Postpartum. Neuroimage 2022; 263:119646. [PMID: 36155243 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy and giving birth are exceptional states in a woman's life for many reasons. While the effects of pregnancy and childbirth on the female body are obvious, less is known about their impact on the female brain, especially in humans. The scientific literature is still sparse but we have identified 12 longitudinal neuroimaging studies conducted in women whose brains were scanned before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and/or after giving birth. This review summarizes and discusses the reported neuroanatomical changes during pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. Some studies suggest that pregnancy is mainly associated with tissue decreases, and a few studies suggest that this tissue loss is mostly permanent. In contrast, the majority of studies seems to indicate that the postpartum period is accompanied by substantial tissue increases throughout the entire brain. Future research is clearly warranted to replicate and extend the current findings, while addressing various limitations and shortcomings of existing studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen Luders
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
| | - Florian Kurth
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Rehbein E, Kogler L, Kotikalapudi R, Sattler A, Krylova M, Kagan KO, Sundström-Poromaa I, Derntl B. Pregnancy and brain architecture: Associations with hormones, cognition and affect. J Neuroendocrinol 2022; 34:e13066. [PMID: 35014110 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Sex hormones such as estradiol (E2) have long-lasting influence on brain architecture. Recent studies indicate further structural changes during hormonal transition periods including pregnancy, when women experience the greatest increase in sex hormone levels across their life span. In the present study, three groups of women (n = 44) with different levels of E2 underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging: (1) first-time pregnant women (n = 13, 'extreme E2 group'); (2), nulliparous, naturally cycling women who received 12 mg of E2 valerate (n = 16, 'high E2 group'); and (3) nulliparous, naturally cycling women receiving a placebo and hence low E2 (n = 15, 'low E2 group'). Blood samples were taken to assess hormonal levels. Moreover, parameters for cognition, emotion regulation and affect were assessed. On the neuronal level, the extreme E2 compared to the high E2 group showed a reduced gray matter volume in the left putamen. However, no significant differences were found between the low vs. high E2 groups, nor between the low E2 and extreme E2 groups. Cognitive performance was reduced in the extreme E2 group, although a positive affect was increased compared to the high E2 and low E2 groups. Furthermore, regression analyses revealed several associations between cognition, subjective measures of affect, emotion regulation and gray matter volume. A volume reduction of the left putamen during pregnancy further supports the notion that the female brain is shaped by hormonal transition phases, possibly preparing women for their future roles (e.g., pregnant women for their role as mothers).
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Rehbein
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Innovative Neuroimaging, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lydia Kogler
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Innovative Neuroimaging, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Anna Sattler
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Innovative Neuroimaging, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marina Krylova
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Jena, Jena, Germany
- Medical Physics Group, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Karl Oliver Kagan
- Department of Women's Health, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Birgit Derntl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Innovative Neuroimaging, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Lead Graduate School, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Martínez-García M, Cardenas SI, Pawluski J, Carmona S, Saxbe DE. Recent Neuroscience Advances in Human Parenting. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 27:239-267. [PMID: 36169818 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-97762-7_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The transition to parenthood entails brain adaptations to the demands of caring for a newborn. This chapter reviews recent neuroscience findings on human parenting, focusing on neuroimaging studies. First, we describe the brain circuits underlying human maternal behavior, which comprise ancient subcortical circuits and more sophisticated cortical regions. Then, we present the short-term and long-term functional and structural brain adaptations that characterize the transition to motherhood, discuss the long-term effects of parenthood on the brain, and propose several underlying neural mechanisms. We also review neuroimaging findings in biological fathers and alloparents (such as other relatives or adoptive parents), who engage in parenting without directly experiencing pregnancy or childbirth. Finally, we describe perinatal mental illnesses and discuss the neural responses associated with such disorders. To date, studies indicate that parenthood is a period of enhanced brain plasticity within brain areas critical for cognitive and social processing and that both parenting experience and gestational-related factors can prime such plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Martínez-García
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Sofia I Cardenas
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jodi Pawluski
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), Rennes, France
| | - Susanna Carmona
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Darby E Saxbe
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Luders E, Gaser C, Gingnell M, Engman J, Sundström Poromaa I, Kurth F. Postpartum Gray Matter Changes in the Auditory Cortex. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10235616. [PMID: 34884318 PMCID: PMC8658382 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10235616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
After giving birth, a mother’s brain undergoes functional adaptations fostering the ability to properly respond to the needs of her newborn. Tuning into and understanding her baby’s crying is among the top skills required and executed in the early stages of motherhood. However, surprisingly little is known about potential changes in the anatomy of the maternal auditory cortex. Therefore, in this longitudinal study, we compared the brains of 14 healthy women between immediate postpartum (within 1–2 days of childbirth) and late postpartum (at 4–6 weeks after childbirth), focusing on areas of the primary, secondary, and higher auditory cortex. We observed significant volume increases within all auditory regions and subregions examined, which might reflect rapid adaptations of the mother’s brain in relation to reliably interpreting her newborn’s cries. There was also a trend for a larger postpartum increase within right-hemispheric regions compared to left-hemispheric regions that might be specifically linked to the ability to discern the pitch, sound, and volume of a baby’s crying. Follow-up research is warranted to replicate these findings and evaluate their current interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen Luders
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand;
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden; (M.G.); (I.S.P.)
- Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Christian Gaser
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany;
| | - Malin Gingnell
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden; (M.G.); (I.S.P.)
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Jonas Engman
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Inger Sundström Poromaa
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden; (M.G.); (I.S.P.)
| | - Florian Kurth
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand;
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Martínez-García M, Paternina-Die M, Desco M, Vilarroya O, Carmona S. Characterizing the Brain Structural Adaptations Across the Motherhood Transition. Front Glob Womens Health 2021; 2:742775. [PMID: 34816246 PMCID: PMC8593951 DOI: 10.3389/fgwh.2021.742775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Women that become mothers face notable physiological adaptations during this life-period. Neuroimaging studies of the last decade have provided grounded evidence that women's brains structurally change across the transition into motherhood. The characterization of this brain remodeling is currently in its early years of research. The current article reviews this scientific field by focusing on our longitudinal (pre-to-post pregnancy) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies in first-time parents and other longitudinal and cross-sectional studies of parents. We present the questions that are currently being answered by the parental brain literature and point out those that have not yet been explored. We also highlight potential confounding variables that need to be considered when analyzing and interpreting brain changes observed during motherhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Martínez-García
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - María Paternina-Die
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Desco
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Oscar Vilarroya
- Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susanna Carmona
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
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