The role of the orbitofrontal cortex in exercise addiction and exercise motivation: A brain imaging study based on multimodal magnetic resonance imaging

Body Satisfaction, Exercise Dependence, and White Matter Microstructure in Young Adults

BACKGROUND

Self-body satisfaction is considered a psychological factor for exercise dependence (EXD). However, the potential neuropsychological mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear.

PURPOSE

To investigate the role of white matter microstructure in the association between body satisfaction and EXD.

STUDY TYPE

Prospective.

POPULATION

One hundred eight regular exercisers (age 22.11 ± 2.62 years; 58 female).

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE

3.0 Tesla; diffusion-weighted echo planar imaging with 30 directions.

ASSESSMENT

The Body Shape Satisfaction (BSS) and Exercise Dependence Scale (EDS); whole-brain tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) and correlational tractography analyses; average fractional anisotropy (FA) and quantitative anisotropy (QA) values of obtained tracts.

STATISTICAL TESTS

The whole-brain regression model, mediation analysis, and simple slope analysis. P values <0.05 were defined as statistically significant.

RESULTS

The BSS and EDS scores were 37.33 ± 6.32 and 68.22 ± 13.88, respectively. TBSS showed negative correlations between EDS and FA values in the bilateral corticospinal tract (CST, r = -0.41), right cingulum (r = -0.41), and left superior thalamic radiation (STR, r = -0.50). Correlational tractography showed negative associations between EDS and QA values of the left inferior frontal occipital fasciculus (r = -0.35), STR (r = -0.42), CST (r = -0.31), and right cingulum (r = -0.28). The FA values, rather than QA values, mediated the BSS-EDS association (indirect effects = 0.30). The BSS was significantly associated with the EDS score at both low (β = 1.02) and high (β = 0.43) levels of FA value, while the association was significant only at the high level of QA value (β = 1.26).

DATA CONCLUSION

EXD was correlated with white matter in frontal-subcortical and sensorimotor networks, and these tracts mediated the body satisfaction-EXD association. White matter microstructure could be a promising neural signature for understanding the underlying neuropsychological mechanisms of EXD.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 1.

Genes associated with cortical thickness alterations in behavioral addiction

Behavioral addiction (BA) is a conceptually new addictive phenotype characterized by compulsive reward-seeking behaviors despite adverse consequences. Currently, its underlying neurogenetic mechanism remains unclear. Here, this study aimed to investigate the association between cortical thickness (CTh) and genetic phenotypes in BA. We conducted a systematic search in five databases and extracted gene expression data from the Allen Human Brain Atlas. Meta-analysis of 10 studies (343 addicted individuals and 355 controls) revealed that the BA group showed thinner CTh in the precuneus, postcentral gyrus, orbital-frontal cortex, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (P < 0.005). Meta-regression showed that the CTh in the precuneus and postcentral gyrus were negatively associated with the addiction severity (P < 0.0005). More importantly, the CTh phenotype of BA was spatially correlated with the expression of 12 genes (false discovery rate [FDR] < 0.05), and the dopamine D2 receptor had the highest correlation (rho = 0.55). Gene enrichment analysis further revealed that the 12 genes were involved in the biological processes of behavior regulation and response to stimulus (FDR < 0.05). In conclusion, our findings demonstrated the thinner CTh in cognitive control-related brain areas in BA, which could be associated with the expression of genes involving dopamine metabolism and behavior regulation.

Neuropsychological insights into exercise addiction: the role of brain structure and self-efficacy in middle-older individuals

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between exercise addiction and brain structure in middle-older individuals, and to examine the role of self-efficacy in mediating physiological changes associated with exercise addiction. A total of 133 patients exhibiting symptoms of exercise addiction were recruited for this study (male = 43, age 52.86 ± 11.78 years). Structural magnetic resonance imaging and behavioral assessments were administered to assess the study population. Voxel-based morphological analysis was conducted using SPM12 software. Mediation analysis was employed to explore the potential neuropsychological mechanism of self-efficacy in relation to exercise addiction. The findings revealed a positive correlation between exercise addiction and gray matter volume in the right inferior temporal region and the right hippocampus. Conversely, there was a negative correlation with gray matter volume in the left Rolandic operculum. Self-efficacy was found to indirectly influence exercise addiction by affecting right inferior temporal region gray matter volume and acted as a mediating variable in the relationship between the gray matter volume of right inferior temporal region and exercise addiction. In summary, this study elucidates the link between exercise addiction and brain structure among middle-older individuals. It uncovers the intricate interplay among exercise addiction, brain structure, and psychological factors. These findings enhance our comprehension of exercise addiction and offer valuable insights for the development of interventions and treatments.