Resting-state dynamic functional connectivity predicts the psychosocial stress response

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Stress Research

Background:

• Individual differences in acute stress responses are significant.
• Previous research explored resting-state brain dynamics and stress, but not predictive capacity for psychosocial stress.
• The Montreal Imaging Stress Test (MIST) is a validated paradigm for inducing acute psychosocial stress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if dynamic brain activity during rest can predict individual differences in psychosocial stress responses.
• To identify specific resting-state brain connectivity states (CS) associated with stress perception.
• To develop objective indicators for predicting human stress reactions.

Main Methods:

• Collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from 48 healthy participants.
• Administered the Montreal Imaging Stress Test (MIST) to assess acute stress responses.
• Analyzed resting-state fMRI data to identify distinct brain connectivity states (CS).

Main Results:

• A whole-brain positive correlation CS negatively predicted feelings of social evaluative threat.
• A CS with negative correlations between the frontal-parietal network (FPN) and other networks predicted subjective stress, uncontrollability, and social evaluative threat.
• No identified CS predicted salivary cortisol levels.

Conclusions:

• Resting-state brain states, particularly those related to attentional regulation and self-control, can predict psychosocial stress responses.
• The study provides an objective indicator for predicting individual stress experiences.
• Dynamic brain activity during rest offers insights into the neural underpinnings of stress resilience and vulnerability.