Default mode network alterations in individuals with high-trait-anxiety: An EEG functional connectivity study

Claudio Imperatori; Benedetto Farina; Mauro Adenzato; Enrico Maria Valenti; Cristina Murgia; Giacomo Della Marca; Riccardo Brunetti; Elena Fontana; Rita B Ardito

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2018.12.071

Default mode network alterations in individuals with high-trait-anxiety: An EEG functional connectivity study

J Affect Disord. 2019 Mar 1:246:611-618. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.12.071. Epub 2018 Dec 24.

Authors

Claudio Imperatori¹, Benedetto Farina¹, Mauro Adenzato², Enrico Maria Valenti³, Cristina Murgia¹, Giacomo Della Marca⁴, Riccardo Brunetti¹, Elena Fontana⁵, Rita B Ardito⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
² Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: mauro.adenzato@unito.it.
³ Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
⁴ Sleep Disorders Unit, Institute of Neurology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
⁵ Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
⁶ Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy.

PMID: 30605880
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.12.071

Abstract

Background: Although several researches investigated Default Mode Network (DMN) alterations in individuals with anxiety disorders, up to now no studies have investigated DMN functional connectivity in non-clinical individuals with high-trait-anxiety using quantitative electroencephalography (EEG). Here, the main aim was to extend previous findings investigating the association between trait anxiety and DMN EEG functional connectivity.

Methods: Twenty-three individuals with high-trait-anxiety and twenty-four controls were enrolled. EEG was recorded during 5 min of resting state (RS). EEG analyses were conducted by means of the exact Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography software (eLORETA).

Results: Compared to controls, individuals with high-trait-anxiety showed a decrease of theta connectivity between right medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and right posterior cingulate/retrosplenial cortex. A decrease of beta connectivity was also observed between right mPFC and right anterior cingulate cortex. Furthermore, DMN functional connectivity strength was negatively related with STAI-T total score (i.e., lower connectivity was associated with higher trait anxiety), even when controlling for potential confounding variables (i.e., sex, age, and general psychopathology).

Limitations: Small sample size makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Furthermore, we did not assess state variation of anxiety, which make our interpretation specific to trait anxiety.

Conclusions: Taken together, our results suggest that high-trait-anxiety individuals fail to synchronize DMN during RS, reflecting a possible top-down cognitive control deficit. These results may help in the understanding of the individual differences in functional brain networks associated with trait anxiety, a crucial aim in the prevention and in the early etiology understanding of clinical anxiety and related sequelae.

Keywords: Default mode network; EEG functional connectivity; Psychopathology; Trait anxiety; eLORETA.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Affective Symptoms / physiopathology*
Anxiety Disorders / physiopathology*
Brain / physiopathology
Brain Mapping
Electroencephalography / methods*
Female
Gyrus Cinguli / physiopathology
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Models, Neurological
Nerve Net / physiopathology*
Neural Pathways / physiopathology*
Prefrontal Cortex / physiopathology
Psychopathology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult