Goal Directed Worry Rules Are Associated with Distinct Patterns of Amygdala Functional Connectivity and Vagal
Frances Meeten1, Graham C L Davey2, Elena Makovac3
1Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King's College LondonLondon, UK; Department of Psychiatry, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of SussexBrighton, UK.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
|November 18, 2016
Summary
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) patients using "as many as can" (AMA) worry rules show altered brain connectivity and autonomic responses. These findings reveal neural mechanisms behind persistent worry and potential strategies for managing GAD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
Background:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry.
- Understanding worry perseveration is crucial for effective GAD treatment.
- "As many as can" (AMA) worry rules are linked to difficulty stopping worry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural and autonomic correlates of AMA worry rule deployment in GAD.
- To differentiate AMA worry rule processes from general trait worry (measured by PSWQ).
- To explore brain functional connectivity (FC) with the amygdala during worry induction.
Main Methods:
- Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and heart rate variability (HRV) were used.
- 19 GAD patients and 21 controls underwent a perseverative cognition induction.
- Seed-based analyses quantified amygdala functional connectivity (FC).
Main Results:
- AMA worry rule endorsement correlated with increased HRV decrease (stress) and amygdala-PFC connectivity.
- Increased connectivity was observed between the right amygdala and locus coeruleus (LC).
- Higher Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) scores were linked to altered FC in frontal and parietal regions.
Conclusions:
- AMA worry rules are associated with neural mechanisms involving amygdala-prefrontal cortex connectivity, potentially maintaining distress.
- PSWQ scores relate to neural mechanisms of effortful inhibitory control during worry.
- Findings offer insights into the neurobiology of worry perseveration in GAD.
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