Mean diffusivity of basal ganglia and thalamus specifically associated with motivational states among mood states

Abstract

Previously, we proposed that the mean diffusivity (MD), a measure of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in areas of the dopaminergic system (MDDS), is associated with motivation. In this study, we tested if and how the motivational state is associated with MD in comparison with other mood states. We also tested the associations of these mood states with multiple cognitive functions. We examined these issues in 766 right-handed healthy young adults. We employed analyses of MD and a psychological measure of the profile of mood states (POMS) as well as multiple cognitive functions. We detected associations between the higher Vigor subscale of POMS and lower MD in the right globus pallidum, right putamen to right posterior insula, right caudate body, and right thalamus, and these associations were highly specific to the Vigor subscale. Similarly, the association of the motivational state with creativity measured by divergent thinking (CMDT) was rather specific and prominent compared with that of the other mood states and cognitive functions. In conclusion, when affective states are finely divided, only the motivational state is associated with MD in the areas related to the dopaminergic system, and psychological mechanisms that had been associated with dopaminergic system (CMDT). These results suggest that these mechanisms specifically contribute to the motivational state and not to the other states, such as depression and anxiety.

Association of copper levels in the hair with gray matter volume, mean diffusivity, and cognitive functions

“…However, Cu levels were not associated with cognitive abilities, traits, and states associated with dopaminergic functions such as novelty seeking and extraversion ). These cognitions were associated with MD of the basal ganglia, thalamus, and contingent regions, but not with MD of the substantia nigra (Takeuchi et al 2015b(Takeuchi et al , 2016b and that may partly explain lack of the significant associations. Future studies involving animals may be required to reveal the mechanisms of the present associations.…”

“…For details, see "Supplemental Methods". The description in this subsection was mostly reproduced from our previous study that used the same method (Takeuchi et al 2016b). This method can remove partial volume effects of CSF through thorough removal of CSF areas and achieve accurate normalization within the white matter areas by utilizing the FA signal distribution within the white matter area in the normalization procedure.…”

“…Here, we limited the areas to extract these values from within the areas that showed "gray matter tissue probability + white matter tissue probability > 0.999" in the custom template mentioned above. The descriptions in this subsection were reproduced in part from our previous study that used similar methods (Takeuchi et al, 2016b).…”

Lenticular nucleus correlates of general self-efficacy in young adults

“…Subsequently, after identifying the MD correlates of GSES, we employed an ROI approach (Takeuchi et al 2016c ) to determine whether the MD correlates of the GSES were also associated with state anxiety. These areas included the right globus pallidum and putamen.…”

“…Subsequently, the mean MD values of these images were extracted from the aforementioned normalised images. We limited the areas from which these values were extracted from to those that showed ‘gray matter tissue probability + white matter tissue probability >0.999’ in the custom template mentioned above (Takeuchi et al 2016c ).…”