Alterations in amygdala functional connectivity reflect early temperament.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Behavioral inhibition (BI) is an early-life temperament associated with heightened anxiety disorder risk.
• Amygdala hyperresponsivity is observed in both BI and anxious individuals, suggesting it as a potential anxiety risk marker.
• Broader amygdala network connectivity in relation to childhood BI history has not been extensively studied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC) of amygdala subregions in adults with and without a history of childhood BI.
• To examine group differences in amygdala iFC and their association with self-reported anxiety levels.

Main Methods:

• Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed.
• Participants included 38 healthy young adults (19 with childhood BI history, 19 without).
• Intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC) of centromedial, basolateral, and superficial amygdala subregions was assessed.

Main Results:

• Significant group differences were found in amygdala iFC with prefrontal cortex, striatum, anterior insula, and cerebellum.
• Adults with a history of childhood BI reported higher state anxiety before scanning.
• Anxiety levels were associated with observed amygdala iFC differences between groups.

Conclusions:

• Childhood BI has enduring effects on amygdala circuitry, influencing functional connectivity into adulthood.
• These neural alterations are present even in the absence of current psychopathology.
• Amygdala network connectivity may serve as a long-term marker for anxiety risk stemming from early temperament.