Brain circuitry underlying the ABC model of anxiety

Bystritsky, Alexander; Spivak, Norman M.; Dang, Bianca H.; Becerra, Sergio; Distler, Margaret G.; Jordan, Sheldon E.; Kuhn, Taylor

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.03.030

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 175 publications

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“…The VAL/VM is not only involved in the execution of regulated movements but also in their planning ( Guo et al, 2017 ; Svoboda and Li, 2018 ). Negative emotions often lead to negative motor planning or selection, which in turn leads to negative behaviors (e.g., avoidance and reduced activity) ( Corr, 2013 ; Donner and Lowry, 2013 ; Bystritsky et al, 2021 ). Our previous study showed that specific activation of the rACC-VAL circuit can produce anxiety-like behaviors, and specific inhibition of the rACC-VAL circuit can alleviate chronic pain-induced anxiety-like behaviors but does not affect pain sensitization ( Shen et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Afferent and efferent projections of the rostral anterior cingulate cortex in young and middle-aged mice

Yu²,

Yao³

et al. 2022

Front. Aging Neurosci.

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Research shows that across life, the incidence of mental illness is highest in the young. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health issues of the young in particular have received global attention. The rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) plays an important role in psychiatric disorders and chronic pain-psychiatric comorbidities. However, it remains unknown whether or how the afferent and efferent circuits of the rACC change with aging. In this study, we microinjected a retrograde tracer virus and an anterograde trans-monosynaptic virus into the rACC of young and middle-aged mice (both male and female), and systematically and quantitatively analyzed the whole-brain afferent and efferent connections of rACC at different ages and sexes. Notably, in young and middle-aged mice, afferents of the rACC belong to four groups of brain structures arising mainly from the amygdala [mainly basolateral amygdaloid nucleus (BLA)] and cerebral cortex (mainly orbital cortex), with a small part originating from the basal forebrain and thalamus. In contrast, efferents of the rACC belong to four groups of brain structures mainly projecting to the thalamus (mainly ventral anterior-lateral/ventromedial thalamic nucleus (VAL/VM)], with a very small part projecting to the amygdala, basal forebrain, and cerebral cortex. Compared with young mice, the BLA-rACC circuit in middle-aged mice (male and female) did not change significantly, while the rACC-VAL/VM circuit in middle-aged mice (male and female) decreased significantly. In conclusion, this study comprehensively analyzed the input-output neural projections of rACC in mice of different ages and sexes and provided preliminary evidence for further targeted research.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Afferent and efferent projections of the rostral anterior cingulate cortex in young and middle-aged mice

Yu²,

Yao³

et al. 2022

Front. Aging Neurosci.

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“…The precuneus was involved in the manipulation of mental images and internally directing attention from visuospatial images, indicating their unique ability to represent the inner self psychologically. Some studies have confirmed the importance of the precuneus in anxiety neural circuits and psychological interventions for mood and anxiety disorders …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Gray Matter Thickness and Subcortical Nuclear Volume in Men After SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Infection

Du,

Zhao,

Huang

et al. 2023

JAMA Netw Open

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ImportanceThe clinical manifestations and effects on the brain of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in the acute postinfection phase remain unclear.ObjectiveTo investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying clinical symptoms and changes to gray matter and subcortical nuclei among male patients after Omicron infection and to provide an imaging basis for early detection and intervention.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsIn this cohort study, a total of 207 men underwent health screening magnetic resonance imaging scans between August 28 and September 18, 2022; among them, 98 provided complete imaging and neuropsychiatric data. Sixty-one participants with Omicron infection were reevaluated after infection (January 6 to 14, 2023). Neuropsychiatric data, clinical symptoms, and magnetic resonance imaging data were collected in the acute post-Omicron period, and their clinical symptoms were followed up after 3 months. Gray matter indexes and subcortical nuclear volumes were analyzed. Associations between changes in gray matter and neuropsychiatric data were evaluated with correlation analyses.ExposuresGray matter thickness and subcortical nuclear volume change data were compared before and after Omicron infection.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe gray matter indexes and subcutaneous nuclear volume were generated from the 3-dimensional magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo and were calculated with imaging software.ResultsNinety-eight men underwent complete baseline data collection; of these, 61 (mean [SD] age, 43.1 [9.9] years) voluntarily enrolled in post-Omicron follow-up and 17 (mean [SD] age, 43.5 [10.0] years) voluntarily enrolled in 3-month follow-up. Compared with pre-Omicron measures, Beck Anxiety Inventory scores were significantly increased (median, 4.50 [IQR, 1.00-7.00] to 4.00 [IQR, 2.00-9.75]; P = .006) and depressive distress scores were significantly decreased (median, 18.00 [IQR, 16.00-20.22] to 16.00 [IQR, 15.00-19.00]; P = .003) at the acute post-Omicron follow-up. Fever, headache, fatigue, myalgia, cough, and dyspnea were the main symptoms during the post-Omicron follow-up; among the participants in the 3-month follow-up, fever (11 [64.7%] vs 2 [11.8%]; P = .01), myalgia (10 [58.8%] vs 3 (17.6%]; P = .04), and cough (12 [70.6%] vs 4 [23.5%]; P = .02) were significantly improved. The gray matter thickness in the left precuneus (mean [SD], 2.7 [0.3] to 2.6 [0.2] mm; P &lt; .001) and right lateral occipital region (mean [SD], 2.8 [0.2] to 2.7 [0.2] and 2.5 [0.2] to 2.5 [0.2] mm; P &lt; .001 for both) and the ratio of the right hippocampus volume to the total intracranial volume (mean [SD]. 0.003 [0.0003] to 0.003 [0.0002]; P = .04) were significantly reduced in the post-Omicron follow-up. The febrile group had reduced sulcus depth of the right inferior parietal region compared with the nonfebrile group (mean [SD], 3.9 [2.3] to 4.8 [1.1]; P = .048. In the post-Omicron period, the thickness of the left precuneus was negatively correlated with the Beck Anxiety Inventory scores (r = −0.39; P = .002; false discovery rate P = .02), and the ratio of the right hippocampus to the total intracranial volume was positively correlated with the Word Fluency Test scores (r = 0.34; P = .007).Conclusions and RelevanceIn this cohort study of male patients infected with the Omicron variant, the duration of symptoms in multiple systems after infection was short. Changes in gray matter thickness and subcortical nuclear volume injury were observed in the post-Omicron period. These findings provide new insights into the emotional and cognitive mechanisms of an Omicron infection, demonstrate its association with alterations to the nervous system, and verify an imaging basis for early detection and intervention of neurological sequelae.

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“…One group who developed this technique created a lens that focuses the beam into the shape of a hummingbird, as an example of the power of this approach [ 30 ]. Future applications can be imagined in which individualized lenses are created to form the acoustic beam into the shape of virtually any brain structure, such as the amygdala, which can then be focally targeted for anxiolytic treatment [ 31 ]. To implement this technique, however, an accurate representation of the skull is required.…”

Section: General Issuesmentioning

confidence: 99%