Beyond amygdala: Default Mode Network activity differs between patients with social phobia and healthy controls

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• The Default Mode Network (DMN) is active during rest and involved in social cognition.
• Social Phobia (SP) is an anxiety disorder impacting social interactions.
• Previous research has not examined DMN activity in Social Phobia Patients (SPP).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in DMN activity between SPP and healthy controls (HC).
• To explore the role of DMN in the social cognition deficits observed in SP.

Main Methods:

• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure brain activity.
• Participants (SPP and HC) underwent fMRI during a face perception task with emotional and neutral stimuli.
• DMN activity was assessed by analyzing brain region deactivation during task conditions.

Main Results:

• SPP showed significantly lower deactivation in the precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex (PCun/PCC) compared to HC.
• These regions are key components of the 'Theory of Mind' circuit and involved in self-state evaluation.
• The findings suggest impaired DMN modulation in SPP during social-cognitive tasks.

Conclusions:

• Altered DMN activity in SPP may underlie heightened self-focused attention and fear of judgment.
• Impaired DMN modulation could reflect persistent anxiety-related thoughts in SP.
• These DMN changes may be relevant to the development and maintenance of Social Phobia.