Habitual ‘sleep credit’ is associated with greater grey matter volume of the medial prefrontal cortex, higher emotional intelligence and better mental health

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 527-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mareen Weber ◽  
Christian A. Webb ◽  
Sophie R. Deldonno ◽  
Maia Kipman ◽  
Zachary J. Schwab ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Medial Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Matter Volume

Polygenic effects of schizophrenia on hippocampal grey matter volume and hippocampus–medial prefrontal cortex functional connectivity

2019 ◽  
Vol 216 (5) ◽  
pp. 267-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu Liu ◽  
Ang Li ◽  
Yong Liu ◽  
Hao Yan ◽  
Meng Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Medial Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Polygenic Risk Score ◽  
Polygenic Inheritance ◽  
Polygenic Risk ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
A Genome

BackgroundSchizophrenia is a complex mental disorder with high heritability and polygenic inheritance. Multimodal neuroimaging studies have also indicated that abnormalities of brain structure and function are a plausible neurobiological characterisation of schizophrenia. However, the polygenic effects of schizophrenia on these imaging endophenotypes have not yet been fully elucidated.AimsTo investigate the effects of polygenic risk for schizophrenia on the brain grey matter volume and functional connectivity, which are disrupted in schizophrenia.MethodGenomic and neuroimaging data from a large sample of Han Chinese patients with schizophrenia (N = 509) and healthy controls (N = 502) were included in this study. We examined grey matter volume and functional connectivity via structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging, respectively. Using the data from a recent meta-analysis of a genome-wide association study that comprised a large number of Chinese people, we calculated a polygenic risk score (PGRS) for each participant.ResultsThe imaging genetic analysis revealed that the individual PGRS showed a significantly negative correlation with the hippocampal grey matter volume and hippocampus–medial prefrontal cortex functional connectivity, both of which were lower in the people with schizophrenia than in the controls. We also found that the observed neuroimaging measures showed weak but similar changes in unaffected first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia.ConclusionsThese findings suggested that genetically influenced brain grey matter volume and functional connectivity may provide important clues for understanding the pathological mechanisms of schizophrenia and for the early diagnosis of schizophrenia.

scholarly journals Altered heartbeat perception sensitivity associated with brain structural alterations in generalised anxiety disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. e100057 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Li ◽  
Bin Zhang ◽  
Qiang Hu ◽  
Lanlan Zhang ◽  
Yi Jin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Anterior Cingulate Cortex ◽  
Medial Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Generalised Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Heartbeat Perception

BackgroundPalpitation is a common complaint in generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). Brain imaging studies have investigated the neural mechanism of heartbeat perception in healthy volunteers. This study explored the neuroanatomical differences of altered heartbeat perception in patients with GAD using structural MRI.AimsBased on the strong somatic-interoceptive symptoms in GAD, we explored the regional structural brain abnormalities involved in heartbeat perception in patients with GAD.MethodsThis study was applied to the a priori regions using neuroanatomical theories of heartbeat perception, including the insula, anterior cingulate cortex, supplementary motor area and prefrontal cortex. A total of 19 patients with GAD and 19 healthy control subjects were enrolled. We used the FMRIB Software Library voxel-based morphometry software for estimating the grey matter volume of these regions of interest and analysed the correlation between heartbeat perception sensitivity and the volume of abnormal grey matter.ResultsPatients with GAD showed a significantly decreased volume of grey matter in their left medial prefrontal cortex, right orbital frontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex. The grey matter volume of the left medial prefrontal cortex negatively correlated with heartbeat perception sensitivity in patients with GAD.ConclusionsIt should be the first study that shows heartbeat perception is associated with brain structure in GAD. Our findings suggest that the frontal region may play an important role in aberrant heartbeat perception processing in patients with GAD, and this may be an underlying mechanism resulting in the abnormal cardiovascular complaints in GAD. This is hypothesised as a ‘top-down’ deficiency, especially in the medial prefrontal cortex. This will provide the foundation for a more targeted region for neuromodulation intervention in the future.

scholarly journals 0315 Gray Matter Volume of the Rostral Medial Prefrontal Cortex is Associated with Resilience to Mood Decline During Overnight Sleep Deprivation

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A119-A119
Author(s):  
I Anlap ◽  
E Taylor ◽  
M A Grandner ◽  
W D Killgore
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Sleep Deprivation ◽  
Medial Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Cluster Threshold ◽  
Subjective Alertness

Abstract Introduction Vulnerability to sleep deprivation (SD) has been attributed to inter-individual trait-like differences in the ability to sustain vigilance and subjective alertness, which may have distinct neurobiological substrates. We have previously shown that reduced suppression of the Default Mode Network (DMN) during a cognitive task was predictive of global vulnerability to SD. However, little is known about vulnerability to mood decrements during SD and the underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Using voxel-based morphometry (VBM), we assessed structural differences in gray matter volume (GMV) of a region of the anterior DMN, the medial prefrontal cortex and its association with self-reported mood during 29 hours of SD. Methods 45 healthy participants (23 male; Ages 20-43) underwent 3T structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Within 4 days, participants underwent an overnight SD session (29 hours awake total) which included hourly mood assessments with several visual analog mood scales (VAMS) assessing positive and negative affect. Hourly VAMS data were converted into a comparative metric of percent worsening of mood scores from 19:00 until noon the next day. These scores were averaged to determine a “mood resilience” score, with higher scores indicating greater mood sustainment. Using SPM12, the mean mood resilience scores were correlated with whole-brain gray matter volume, restricted to the medial prefrontal cortex, p<.05, FWE corrected, with a cluster threshold of 137 voxels. Results Overnight mood resilience was significantly correlated with greater grey matter volume in right rostral medial prefrontal cortex (p<.05, corrected; k=137). Conclusion Individuals with greater gray matter volume within a circumscribed region of the right medial prefrontal cortex demonstrated greater resilience to mood degradation over 29 hours of continuous wakefulness. This same region of the brain has been shown to be critical for the passive maintenance of emotions. We speculate that greater GMV could protect against mood decline by better sustaining emotional state during SD. Support Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Young Faculty Award: DARPA-12-12-11-YFA11-FP-029

scholarly journals Relationship between depression, prefrontal creatine and grey matter volume

2021 ◽  
pp. 026988112110505
Author(s):  
Paul Faulkner ◽  
Susanna Lucini Paioni ◽  
Petya Kozhuharova ◽  
Natasza Orlov ◽  
David J Lythgoe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Whole Brain ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Matter Volume

Background: Depression and low mood are leading contributors to disability worldwide. Research indicates that clinical depression may be associated with low creatine concentrations in the brain and low prefrontal grey matter volume. Because subclinical depression also contributes to difficulties in day-to-day life, understanding the neural mechanisms of depressive symptoms in all individuals, even at a subclinical level, may aid public health. Methods: Eighty-four young adult participants completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) to quantify severity of depression, anxiety and stress, and underwent 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of the medial prefrontal cortex and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine whole-brain grey matter volume. Results/outcomes: DASS depression scores were negatively associated (a) with concentrations of creatine (but not other metabolites) in the prefrontal cortex and (b) with grey matter volume in the right superior medial frontal gyrus. Medial prefrontal creatine concentrations and right superior medial frontal grey matter volume were positively correlated. DASS anxiety and DASS stress scores were not related to prefrontal metabolite concentrations or whole-brain grey matter volume. Conclusions/interpretations: This study provides preliminary evidence from a representative group of individuals who exhibit a range of depression levels that prefrontal creatine and grey matter volume are negatively associated with depression. While future research is needed to fully understand this relationship, these results provide support for previous findings, which indicate that increasing creatine concentrations in the prefrontal cortex may improve mood and well-being.

scholarly journals Structural abnormalities in gyri of the prefrontal cortex in individuals with schizophrenia and their unaffected siblings

2010 ◽  
Vol 196 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P. Harms ◽  
Lei Wang ◽  
Carolina Campanella ◽  
Kristina Aldridge ◽  
Amanda J. Moffitt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽  
Familial Risk ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Genetic Contribution ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Structural Abnormalities

BackgroundThe relatives of individuals with schizophrenia exhibit deficits of overall frontal lobe volume, consistent with a genetic contribution to these deficits.AimsTo quantify the structure of gyral-defined subregions of prefrontal cortex in individuals with schizophrenia and their siblings.MethodGrey matter volume, cortical thickness, and surface area of the superior, middle and inferior frontal gyri were measured in participants with schizophrenia and their unaffected (non-psychotic) siblings (n = 26 pairs), and controls and their siblings (n = 40 pairs).ResultsGrey matter volume was reduced in the middle and inferior frontal gyri of individuals with schizophrenia, relative to controls. However, only inferior frontal gyrus volume was also reduced in the unaffected siblings of those with schizophrenia, yielding a volume intermediate between their affected siblings and controls.ConclusionsThe structure of subregions of the prefrontal cortex may be differentially influenced by genetic factors in schizophrenia, with inferior frontal gyrus volume being most related to familial risk.

scholarly journals Reduced orbitofrontal grey matter volume in myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA)

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Williams ◽  
K Liang ◽  
E De Garate ◽  
K Mitrousi ◽  
I Harries ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Coronary Arteries ◽  
Orbitofrontal Cortex ◽  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Funding Source ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
History Of

Abstract Background Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is seen in 6–10% of patients presenting acutely with suspected myocardial infarction. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) can identify an underlying cause in ∼80% of patients. These patients are more likely to have a history of mental health illness or an emotional or stressful precipitant. Grey matter volume can be quantified in various anatomical regions of the brain and has been shown to be altered in common mental health conditions such as anxiety, stress and depression. This is the first prospective study investigating the acute structural brain, cardiac and psychological changes using MRI in patients with myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) within 14 days of presentation compared to STEMI control patients. Methods Patients meeting the 2017 ESC definition of MINOCA were prospectively recruited with STEMI control patients from February to December 2019. All participants underwent brain and comprehensive cardiac MRI, bloods and baseline psychological evaluation. We used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to quantify grey matter volume and changes were compared between groups. Results 54 patients were included in this interim analysis (39 MINOCA, 15 STEMI controls). Demographics were largely similar but MINOCA patients were more likely to have a history of self-reported mental health disease (36% v 7%, p 0.03) and had significantly higher baseline anxiety (8.4 v 5.3, p 0.01) scores on the HADS questionnaire. We found that control patients have significantly greater grey matter volume in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) compared to MINOCA patients (pFWE-corr 0.002). The orbitofrontal cortex is involved in emotional processing and implicated in anxiety and depression. However, there was no association between grey matter volume in any brain region and anxiety, depression or perceived stress scale scores. Conclusion Patients with MINOCA are more likely to have a history of mental health disease and have higher anxiety scores at presentation than STEMI controls. They have less grey matter volume in the orbitofrontal cortex compared to STEMI controls. Reduced Grey Matter Volume in the OFC Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): Rosetrees Trust; James Tudor Foundation

Social cognition and brain organization in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and bonobos (Pan paniscus)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
William D. Hopkins ◽  
Cheryl D. Stimpson ◽  
Chet C. Sherwood
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Species Differences ◽  
Pan Paniscus ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Evolutionary Models ◽  
Brain Organization ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Cognition Sociale

Bonobos and chimpanzees are two closely relates species of the genus Pan, yet they exhibit marked differences in anatomy, behaviour and cognition. For this reason, comparative studies on social behaviour, cognition and brain organization between these two species provide important insights into evolutionary models of human origins. This chapter summarizes studies on socio-communicative competencies and social cognition in chimpanzees and bonobos from the authors’ laboratory in comparison to previous reports. Additionally, recent data on species differences and similarities in brain organization in grey matter volume and distribution is presented. Some preliminary findings on microstructural brain organization such as neuropil space and cellular distribution in key neurotransmitters and neuropeptides involved in social behaviour and cognition is presented. Though these studies are in their infancy, the findings point to potentially important differences in brain organization that may underlie bonobo and chimpanzees’ differences in social behaviour, communication and cognition. Les bonobos et les chimpanzés sont deux espèces du genus Pan prochement liées, néanmoins ils montrent des différences anatomiques, comportementales et cognitives marquées. Pour cette raison, les études comparatives sur le comportement social, la cognition et l’organisation corticale entre ces deux espèces fournissent des idées sur les modèles évolutionnaires des origines humaines. Dans ce chapitre, nous résumons des études sur les compétences socio-communicatives et la cognition sociale chez les chimpanzés et les bonobos de notre laboratoire en comparaison avec des rapports précédents. En plus, nous présentons des données récentes sur les différences et similarités d’organisation corticale du volume et distribution de la matière grise entre espèces. Nous présentons plus de résultats préliminaires sur l’organisation corticale microstructurale comme l’espace neuropile et la division cellulaire dans des neurotransmetteurs clés et les neuropeptides impliqués dans le comportement social et la cognition. Bien que ces études sont dans leur enfance, les résultats montrent des différences d’organisation corticale importantes qui sont à la base des différences de comportement social, la communication et la cognition entre les bonobos et les chimpanzés.

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