Default Mode Network Alterations Induced by Childhood Trauma Correlate With Emotional Function and SLC6A4 Expression

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Genetics

Background:

• The default mode network (DMN) is crucial in neuropsychiatric disorders.
• The link between childhood trauma, DMN alterations, and psychopathology vulnerability remains unclear.
• Understanding genetic modulation of the DMN-environment-behavior pathway is vital for psychiatric pathogenesis and prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate DMN connectivity changes in adults with childhood trauma.
• To explore the genetic basis of trauma-related DMN alterations.
• To examine the mediating role of DMN changes in the relationship between childhood trauma and emotional behavior.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 216 young adults with varying childhood trauma levels (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire - CTQ).
• Utilized static and dynamic functional connectivity analyses (DMN seeds) and independent component analysis (whole-brain).
• Performed mediation effect analysis and imaging-genomic correlations to identify risk genes.

Main Results:

• Dysregulated DMN connectivity was observed at both seed and voxel levels.
• Functional disruptions in specific brain regions (left temporal pole, right parahippocampal gyrus) and frontoparietal connectivity mediated trauma's effect on emotion.
• The serotonin transporter gene was identified as a potential biological underpinning.

Conclusions:

• Altered DMN connectivity serves as a potential biomarker for childhood trauma, supplementing psychological evaluations.
• Findings provide an integrative understanding of trauma-induced DMN alterations.
• The study clarifies implications for psychiatric pathogenesis and early prevention strategies, highlighting the serotonin transporter gene's role.