Neural correlates of human fear conditioning and sources of variability in 2199 individuals.

Pavlovian fear conditioning is a fundamental process in both health and disease. We investigate its neural correlates and sources of variability using harmonized functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 2199 individuals across nine countries, including 1888 healthy individuals and 311 with anxiety-related or depressive disorders. Using mega-analysis and normative modeling, we show that fear conditioning consistently engages brain regions within the "central autonomic-interoceptive" or "salience" network.

Mapping cross-modal functional connectivity of major neurotransmitter systems in the human brain.

Monoaminergic systems, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, are essential for regulating brain activity and facilitating behavioral flexibility. These systems originate from brainstem nuclei and project widely to modulate functions such as mood, attention, memory, and adaptability. Using resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI), this study aimed to investigate the connectivity networks of key monoaminergic nuclei in 193 healthy adults and explore their correspondence with molecular imaging maps of neurotransmitter-specific biochemical markers.

Altered resting-state functional connectivity in individuals at risk for Alzheimer's disease: a longitudinal study.

Background: Resting-state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) is a sensitive tool for detecting early brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease, even in its preclinical stages. Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and late-life depression (LLD) are two prevalent conditions in older adults that significantly elevate the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. This study aimed to elucidate the underlying neurobiological substrates by longitudinally identifying and comparing distinct connectivity patterns in aMCI subjects and LLD patients, and by examining the associations between these patterns and clinical measures of cognitive and mood impairments.

Uncovering the correlation between neurotransmitter-specific functional connectivity and multidimensional anxiety in a non-clinical cohort.

Research on anxiety faces challenges due to the wide range of symptoms, making it difficult to determine if different aspects of anxiety are linked to distinct neurobiological processes. Both alterations in functional brain connectivity (FC) and monoaminergic neurotransmitter systems are implicated as potential neural bases of anxiety. We aimed to investigate whole-brain FC involving monoaminergic nuclei and its association with anxiety dimensions in 178 non-clinical participants.

Trait anxiety is associated with attentional brain networks.

Trait anxiety is a well-established risk factor for anxiety and depressive disorders, yet its neural correlates are not clearly understood. In this study, we investigated the neural correlates of trait anxiety in a large sample (n = 179) of individuals who completed the trait and state versions of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. We used independent component analysis to characterize individual resting-state networks (RSNs), and multiple regression analyses to assess the relationship between trait anxiety and intrinsic connectivity.