Brain default mode network mediates the association between negative perfectionism and exercise dependence

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Perfectionism is associated with exercise dependence.
• Understanding the neural mechanisms linking perfectionism and exercise dependence is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of functional connectivity (FC) between gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) networks in the association between perfectionism and exercise dependence.
• To explore the mediating effects of specific FCs in this relationship.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study with 110 participants exhibiting exercise dependence.
• Behavioral evaluation using Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS) and Exercise Dependence Scale (EDS).
• Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify GM and WM networks and calculate FCs using K-means clustering and mediation analyses.

Main Results:

• Ten GM and nine WM networks were identified.
• Significant FCs were found between specific WM and GM networks, including WM1 (corona radiata) and GM8 (default mode network - DMN).
• WM1-GM8 and WM1-WM4 FCs positively correlated with EDS and negatively with FMPS, mediating the link between negative perfectionism and exercise dependence.

Conclusions:

• Functional connectivity between WM1 and GM8 (DMN) networks mediates the relationship between negative perfectionism and exercise dependence.
• Default mode network function is implicated in the heightened risk of exercise dependence associated with negative perfectionism.