Abnormal Functional Connectivity Between the Left Medial Superior Frontal Gyrus and Amygdala Underlying Abnormal Emotion and Premature Ejaculation: A Resting State fMRI Study

Abstract

IntroductionPremature ejaculation (PE) is a common sexual dysfunction and is found to be associated with abnormal emotion. The amygdala plays an important role in the processing of emotion. The process of ejaculation is found to be mediated by the frontal-limbic neural circuits. However, the correlations between PE and emotion are still unclear.MethodsResting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were acquired in 27 PE patients with stable emotion (SPE), 27 PE patients with abnormal emotion (NPE), and 30 healthy controls (HC). We used rs-fMRI to explore the underlying neural mechanisms in SPE, NPE, and HC by measuring the functional connectivity (FC). Differences of FC values among the three groups were compared when choosing bilateral amygdala as the regions of interest (ROIs). We also explored the correlations between the brain regions showing altered FC values and scores of the premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT)/Eysenck Personality Inventory about neuroticism (EPQ-N) in the PE group.ResultsWhen the left amygdala was chosen as the ROI, the SPE group exhibited an increased FC between the left medial superior frontal gyrus (SFGmed) and amygdala compared with the NPE or HC group. When the right amygdala was chosen as the ROI, the NPE group exhibited a decreased FC between the left SFGmed and right amygdala compared with the HC group. In addition, FC values of the left SFGmed had positive correlations with PEDT and negative correlations with EPQ-N scores in the PE group. Moreover, FC values of the left superior temporal gyrus had positive correlations with EPQ-N scores in the PE group.ConclusionThe increased FC values between the left SFGmed and amygdala could reflect a compensatory cortical control mechanism with the effect of stabilized emotion in the limbic regions of PE patients. Abnormal FC between these brain regions could play a critical role in the physiopathology of PE and could help us in dividing PE into more subtypes.

Altered functional connectivity within default mode network after rupture of anterior communicating artery aneurysm

“…Furthermore, imaging studies have suggested that the medial superior frontal gyrus (SFGmed) plays an important role in a variety of cognitive processes ( Pan et al, 2021 ). As reported in various neuropsychiatric disorders with cognitive deficits, abnormal functional brain connectivity of SFGmed with several cognition-related nodes within the default mode network (DMN) was discovered ( Qiu et al, 2021 ; Xu et al, 2021 ), including precuneus, amygdala, and anterior and posterior cingulate gyrus ( Pan et al, 2021 ; Nagahama et al, 1999 ; Xu et al, 2021 ). But as far as we know, SFGmed-based resting-state FC has not been investigated in patients with aSAH caused by ACoA aneurysm rupture.…”

Global Functional Connectivity Analysis Indicating Dysconnectivity of the Hate Circuit in Major Depressive Disorder

“…Previous studies have exhibited that a deceptive reaction requires more complex cognitive processing or stronger mind control, which may involve cognitive controls, including cognitive inhibition, conflict monitoring, resolution, and generativity ( Spence et al, 2001 ; Nuñez et al, 2005 ). SFGmed is the physiological basis for performing cognitive control ( Sohn et al, 2007 ; Ursu et al, 2009 ; Pourtois et al, 2010 ; Xu et al, 2021 ). SFGmed plays a role in working memory processing, and abnormal FC in this region is the basis of the deterioration of working memory for patients with MDD ( Vasic et al, 2008 ).…”

Potential biomarkers for distinguishing primary from acquired premature ejaculation: A diffusion tensor imaging based network study

“…For patients with primary PE, smaller bilateral amygdala gray matter volume and impaired functional connectivity of the amygdala were identified in previous neuroimaging study ( Geng et al, 2021 ). The decreased functional connectivity was located between right amygdala and left medial superior frontal gyrus, left insula and right inferior frontal gyrus ( Geng et al, 2021 ; Xu et al, 2021 ). The functional connectivity between the right amygdala and posterior cingulate cortex and middle temporal cortex showed negative relationships with IELT scores of primary PE patients ( Geng et al, 2021 ).…”

“…The well-described clinical effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) suggested that both primary and acquired PE were associated with brain changes, including abnormalities of central neurotransmitter and structure or function ( Chen et al, 2021 ; Liu et al, 2021 ; Yang et al, 2021 ). Some brain regions, such as hypothalamus ( Gao et al, 2020 ) and amygdala ( Xu et al, 2021 ), recently received significant attention with the treatment of SSRIs in PE. However, the different central pathological mechanisms between primary and acquired PE are unknown.…”