Task-based functional connectivity patterns: Links to adolescent emotion regulation and psychopathology
Jennifer A Poon1, James C Thompson2, Tara M Chaplin2
1Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Providence, Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital/Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, RI, United States.
Journal of Affective Disorders
|January 27, 2022
Summary
Difficulties in emotion regulation (ER) in adolescents mediate the link between brain connectivity and future psychological symptoms. Stronger limbic-prefrontal connectivity predicts later ER challenges, increasing risk for internalizing and externalizing issues.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Psychopathology
Background:
- Adolescence is a critical period marked by emotional reactivity and neurobiological shifts.
- Emotion regulation (ER) difficulties are a transdiagnostic factor in youth psychopathology.
- Understanding the neural underpinnings of ER is crucial for predicting mental health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how adolescent ER abilities longitudinally mediate the relationship between limbic-prefrontal functional connectivity and subsequent internalizing/externalizing symptoms.
- To explore the predictive role of task-based functional connectivity in the development of psychological symptoms.
- To identify potential transdiagnostic risk factors for adolescent psychopathology.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess task-based limbic-prefrontal functional connectivity in young adolescents (n=67) at baseline.
- Emotion regulation (ER) difficulties were assessed longitudinally.
- Internalizing and externalizing symptoms were assessed longitudinally over two years.
Main Results:
- Adolescents with stronger limbic-prefrontal connectivity during negative emotional image viewing reported more ER difficulties one year later.
- These ER difficulties predicted higher levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms (excluding ADHD) two years later.
- ER difficulties longitudinally mediated the association between functional connectivity and future psychological symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Emotion regulation problems may act as a transdiagnostic risk factor for adolescent psychopathology.
- Task-based functional connectivity patterns and subsequent ER abilities are linked to future internalizing and externalizing symptoms.
- Findings support the development of emotion-focused interventions for at-risk youth.
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