Frontoinsular cortical microstructure is linked to life satisfaction in young adulthood
Ryan P Cabeen1, Arthur W Toga2, John M Allman3
1Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. rcabeen@loni.usc.edu.
Brain Imaging and Behavior
|April 7, 2021
Summary
Brain microstructure in the frontoinsular cortex is linked to life satisfaction. These findings suggest a genetic basis for well-being and brain structure, highlighting the role of the frontoinsular cortex in subjective well-being.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Genetics
Background:
- Life satisfaction is a key aspect of subjective well-being, linked to mental health and resilience.
- Previous neuroimaging studies focused on functional connectivity and gray matter morphometry.
- The neurobiological underpinnings of life satisfaction, particularly at the microstructural level, remain underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between gray matter microstructure in the frontoinsular cortex and life satisfaction.
- To explore the genetic heritability of frontoinsular cortex microstructure and its relation to life satisfaction.
Main Methods:
- Utilized multi-shell diffusion MRI data from 807 young adults (Human Connectome Project).
- Analyzed microstructural features, including orientation dispersion index (ODI) and fractional anisotropy (FA), in the frontoinsular cortex.
- Employed compartmental modeling and validated findings in a test-retest dataset; analyzed twin and non-twin sibling data.
Main Results:
- Identified ODI and FA in the frontoinsular cortex as robust, anatomically specific, and lateralized microstructure features linked to life satisfaction.
- Findings were independent of demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors.
- Demonstrated strong genetic determination of basic frontoinsular cortex microstructure and a significant genetic role in its association with life satisfaction.
Conclusions:
- Suggests a potential link between subjective well-being and the microscopic structural features of the frontoinsular cortex.
- Frontoinsular cortex microstructure may reflect cellular morphology and architecture, implicating homeostatic processing in life satisfaction.
- Highlights the genetic influence on both frontoinsular cortex microstructure and its contribution to life satisfaction.
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