Habenular structural-functional dysconnectivity in bipolar disorder: evidence from multimodal imaging and
Meng-Xuan Qiao1, Wei Wei1,2,3,4, Meng Zhou1
1Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China.
BMC Psychiatry
|May 30, 2026
Summary
Bipolar disorder (BD) involves changes in the habenula, a brain region regulating emotions. Reduced habenular volume and altered connectivity are linked to BD symptoms and genetic pathways.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Genetics
Background:
- Bipolar disorder (BD) is a heritable mood disorder with manic and depressive episodes.
- The habenula is implicated in negative affect and behavioral control.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the habenula's role in bipolar disorder.
- Examine habenular volume and functional connectivity in BD patients.
Main Methods:
- Used neuroimaging (MRI) and resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) in two cohorts.
- Integrated polygenic risk scores and gene expression data.
Main Results:
- BD patients showed reduced habenular volume and altered connectivity.
- Habenular volume correlated with mania, anxiety, and somatization symptoms.
- Genetic analyses linked habenular changes to dopamine and serotonin pathways.
Conclusions:
- The habenula is a key neural hub in bipolar disorder.
- Structural, functional, and molecular data highlight the habenula's importance in BD pathogenesis.
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