The anterior midcingulate cortex as a neural node underlying hostility in young adults

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Brain Imaging

Background:

• Hostility, unlike transient anger, is a prolonged emotional state linked to psychological problems.
• The specific neural underpinnings of hostility remain largely undetermined.
• The anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC) is hypothesized to play a role in the cognitive aspects of hostility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between regional gray matter density (rGMD) and hostility.
• To explore the neural correlates of hostility in healthy young adults.

Main Methods:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to assess regional gray matter density (rGMD).
• The hostile behaviors subscale (HBS) of the Coronary-prone Type Scale (CTS) was administered to 777 healthy young students.
• Whole-brain analysis was performed to correlate HBS scores with rGMD.

Main Results:

• Hostility behaviors (HBS scores) showed a positive correlation with rGMD in the anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC).
• Significant positive correlations were also found in widespread frontal regions, including the dorsomedial/dorsolateral prefrontal cortices and lateral premotor cortex.
• No significant correlations were observed between rGMD and anger measures, nor were there significant sex-by-HBS interactions on rGMD.

Conclusions:

• The neural correlates of hostility, specifically in terms of regional gray matter density, are distinct from those of anger.
• The anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC) and associated frontal regions are implicated in the neural basis of hostility.
• The findings suggest that the duration and cognitive components of hostility contribute to its unique neural signature.