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Published on: April 5, 2016
A developmental shift from positive to negative connectivity in human amygdala-prefrontal circuitry
Dylan G Gee1, Kathryn L Humphreys, Jessica Flannery
1Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
Summary
Brain imaging reveals how frontoamygdala connectivity changes from positive in childhood to negative in adolescence, aiding emotional regulation and reducing anxiety.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Frontoamygdala circuitry is crucial for emotional regulation and is implicated in anxiety disorders.
- Developmental changes in this circuitry are critical during adolescence for emotional control.
- Limited understanding exists regarding reciprocal frontoamygdala connectivity across human development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate developmental changes in amygdala-prefrontal circuitry across human development (ages 4-22).
- To examine how functional connectivity within this circuit evolves from childhood to adolescence.
- To correlate these connectivity changes with emotional regulation and task performance.
Main Methods:
- Task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed.
- Participants aged 4-22 years were studied.
- Functional connectivity between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex was analyzed.
Main Results:
- Positive amygdala-prefrontal functional connectivity was observed in early childhood (younger than 10 years).
- A switch to negative functional connectivity occurred during adolescence (10 years and older).
- This valence switch correlated with declining amygdala reactivity and improved task performance.
Conclusions:
- A developmental shift from positive to negative frontoamygdala connectivity underlies regulatory development.
- This neurobiological change may explain age-related improvements in emotional control and reduced anxiety.
- Understanding this circuitry shift offers insights into general regulatory development processes.
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