Investigating microstructure of white matter tracts as candidate endophenotypes of Social Anxiety Disorder – Findings from the Leiden Family Lab study on Social Anxiety Disorder (LFLSAD)

Abstract

Highlights Microstructure of white matter tracts is altered in social anxiety disorder. Endophenotypes could be used to investigate neurobiological vulnerability to SAD Altered microstructure of the SLF is a promising candidate endophenotype for SAD. SAD

Long‐term benefits of mindfulness on white matter tracts underlying the cortical midline structures in panic disorder: A 2‐year longitudinal study

“…Each region is suggested to play a distinct role in self‐related mental operations; the dmPFC is involved in the evaluation and judgment of self‐referential stimuli, whereas the PCC and precuneus integrate self‐referential stimuli in the context of one's own person 20 . Functional and structural connectivity in these regions is increased in patients with depressive and anxiety disorders who are preoccupied with their inner selves 56–58 . Furthermore, pathological anxiety is associated with hyperactivity of brain regions in the salience and default mode networks, suggesting the increased brain burden of coping with fearful inner experiences and unwarranted worry 59–62 .…”

“…20 Functional and structural connectivity in these regions is increased in patients with depressive and anxiety disorders who are preoccupied with their inner selves. [56][57][58] Furthermore, pathological anxiety is associated with hyperactivity of brain regions in the salience and default mode networks, suggesting the increased brain burden of coping with fearful inner experiences and unwarranted worry. [59][60][61][62] Excessive neuronal excitation leads to the maladaptive formation of redundant axonal components or other glial cells, leading to aberrant communication between brain regions.…”

Intrinsic functional connectivity in families genetically enriched for social anxiety disorder – an endophenotype study

“…Prior to the MRI scan, participants were informed about the safety procedures and they were told that they could refrain from continuing the experiment at any time. Children and adolescents were familiarized with the MRI scanner using a mock scanner [93] , and all participants received instructions about the task paradigms presented during the scan session [32] , [33] , [34] , [35] .The MRI experiment consisted of several structural scans [ 32 , 39 ] and functional task paradigms [ [33] , [34] , [35] , 94 ], and the total duration of the MRI scan protocol was 54 min 47 s.…”

“…Brain connectivity can be determined by outlining the density of white matter tracts between brain regions using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI; structural connectivity), or by detecting correlations in brain activation patterns across regions, using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI; functional connectivity) [ 36 , 37 ]. Within the LFLSAD, data to establish both types of connectivity were collected; while the present work focuses on functional connectivity [38] , results of endophenotype analyses on structural connectivity are reported elsewhere [ 39 , 40 ]. Investigating connectivity is important, as brain regions do not function in isolation, but are tightly connected and part of large-scale networks; moreover, changes in connectivity could play a role in the development, expression and course of psychopathology [41] , [42] , [43] , [44] , [45] , [46] .…”

Neuroimaging candidate endophenotypes of social anxiety disorder

“…Bas-Hoogendam and colleagues conducted the first neuroimaging family study on SAD (the Leiden Family Lab study on Social Anxiety Disorder, LFLSAD), which included 132 individuals from 9 families. Structural features including subcortical grey matter volume, cortical thickness and white matter tracts were studied, and they found candidate endophenotypes that met criterion 3 and criterion 4 [1,7]. Grey matter characteristics of frontal, parietal and temporal ROIs co-segregated social anxiety within families.…”