Prefrontal cortex activation during cognitive interference in nonsuicidal self-injury.
M Kathryn Dahlgren1, Jill M Hooley2, Stephanie G Best3
1Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core, McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA.
Psychiatry Research. Neuroimaging
|May 27, 2018
Summary
Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in women involves altered brain activity during cognitive tasks. Reduced dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation is linked to emotional reactivity and impulsivity, impacting cognitive therapy effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
Background:
- Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is common, especially in adolescent females, often linked to maladaptive emotion regulation.
- Cognitive interference processing is a key component in therapies aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cognitive interference processing in females with NSSI behavior using functional neuroimaging.
- To compare neural activation patterns during a cognitive interference task between females with NSSI and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to collect brain activity data.
- The Multi-Source Interference Task (MSIT) assessed cognitive interference processing in 15 females with NSSI and 15 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Performance on the MSIT was similar between groups.
- Females with NSSI showed increased cingulate cortex (CC) and decreased dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) activation compared to controls.
- Within the NSSI group, lower DLPFC activation correlated with higher emotional reactivity and impulsivity.
Conclusions:
- Women with NSSI exhibit distinct neural activation patterns during cognitive interference processing.
- Altered DLPFC activation in NSSI may relate to impaired emotional control and impulsivity.
- Findings suggest potential implications for the efficacy of cognitive-based therapies for NSSI.
Keywords:
Cognitive interferenceFunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)Multi-Source Interference Task (MSIT)Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI)Self-harmWomenMore Related Videos
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