Resting state connectivity of the medial prefrontal cortex covaries with individual differences in high‐frequency heart rate variability

Abstract

Resting high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) relates to cardiac vagal control and predicts individual differences in health and longevity, but its functional neural correlates are not well defined. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) encompasses visceral control regions that are components of intrinsic networks of the brain, particularly the default mode network (DMN) and the salience network (SN). Might individual differences in resting HF-HRV covary with resting state neural activity in the DMN and SN, particularly within the mPFC? This question was addressed using fMRI data from an eyes-open, five-minute rest period during which echoplanar brain imaging yielded blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) time series. Independent components analysis (ICA) yielded functional connectivity estimates defining the DMN and SN. HF-HRV was measured in a rest period outside of the scanner. Midlife (52% female) adults were assessed in two studies (Study 1, N = 107; Study 2, N = 112). Neither overall DMN nor SN connectivity strength was related to HF-HRV. However, HF-HRV related to connectivity of one region within mPFC shared by the DMN and SN; namely, the perigenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC), an area with connectivity to other regions involved in autonomic control. In sum, HF-HRV does not seem directly related to global resting state activity of intrinsic brain networks, but rather to more localized connectivity. A mPFC region was of particular interest as connectivity related to HF-HRV was shared by the DMN and SN. These findings may indicate a functional basis for the coordination of autonomic cardiac control with engagement and disengagement from the environment.

Systemic inflammation and resting state connectivity of the default mode network

“…One participant was missing depressive symptom scores. Although we have published neuroimaging findings from AHAB-II (Allen, Jennings, Gianaros, Thayer, & Manuck, 2015; Gianaros et al, 2014; Jennings, Allen, Gianaros, Thayer, & Manuck, 2015; Jennings et al, 2016; Marsland et al, 2015), the current findings are the first bearing on resting-state connectivity and inflammation in this sample.…”

“…Major functional hubs of the DMN include the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), precuneus, angular gyrus, and a large territory of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) that invades the rostral portion of the ACC (Buckner et al, 2008; Raichle et al, 2001; Yeo et al, 2011). The DMN has also been functionally parcellated into a ‘dorsal medial PFC subsystem’ that is broadly implicated in interpersonal cognition (PCC, mPFC, angular gyrus, dorsal medial PFC [dmPFC], temporoparietal junction, lateral temporal cortex, and anterior temporal pole), as well as a ‘medial temporal lobe subsystem’ that is chiefly implicated in autobiographical memory, prospective thought, affective processing, and peripheral physiological control (ventromedial PFC [vmPFC]; rostral ACC; hippocampal formation, parahippocampal gyrus, retrosplenial cortex, and posterior inferior parietal lobe) (Andrews-Hanna, Reidler, Sepulcre, Poulin, & Buckner, 2010; Buckner et al, 2008; Jennings, Sheu, Kuan, Manuck, & Gianaros, 2016). Increasing evidence suggests further that the DMN may play a role in the development of psychiatric and neurological disorders that associate with both systemic inflammation and risk for inflammatory disease.…”

Heart rate variability is associated with amygdala functional connectivity with MPFC across younger and older adults

“…Given the importance of mPFC in emotion regulation both in younger and older adults (Goldin et al, 2008; Urry et al, 2006; van Reekum et al, 2007), our results suggest that resting HRV is linked with the brain mechanisms underlying emotion regulation irrespective of age. Interestingly, a recent study identified a very similar mPFC region, common to both the default mode network and the salience network, as being associated with HRV (Jennings et al, 2015). These authors suggested that this region may help coordinate autonomic cardic control and the engagement and disengagement with the environment.…”

Association between Attention and Heart Rate Fluctuations in Pathological Worriers

“…Although indirect, this result adds to the increasing evidence in favor of an association between vagal and DMN activity (Thayer et al, 2012 for a meta-analysis; Jennings et al, 2016). In the context of worry, current data support a recent imaging study in which individuals with high trait perseverative cognition had more difficulties suppressing DMN activity during detection of infrequent targets, and the magnitude of such activity change was predicted by individual differences in HRV (Ottaviani et al, 2016b).…”