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The Reflection of Self-Esteem on the Brain Structure: A Voxel Based Morphometry Study in Healthy Young Adults
Mehmet C Erata1,2, Seda Eroğlu1,3, Burcu Özkul1,4
1SoCAT Lab, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey.
Introduction:
Low self-esteem is a known risk factor for mental illnesses. Neuroimaging studies have identified evidence for a functional association between default mode network (DMN) and self-esteem levels. However, it is not clear whether there is a similar association between trait self-esteem and the structures composing DMN. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the DMN associated brain structures and trait self-esteem.
Methods:
We obtained 3T structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of 75 healthy subjects and detected anatomical regions correlated with their Rosenberg Self-Esteem scores via voxel-based morphometry (VBM).
Results:
We found positive associations between self-esteem and regional grey matter volumes in the right temporoparietal junction/inferior parietal lobule (BA 39), cortical midline regions at precuneus/dorsal cingulate cortex (BA 31), rostral and dorsal anterior cingulate cortices (BA 32).
Conclusion:
The results of the current study support the fMRI studies suggesting self-esteem levels associated with DMN. Further neuroimaging studies should consider the functional and structural coupling of the default mode network during the execution of the functions related to self-esteem.
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