Abstract
53. Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis Functional Connectivity in 1,798 Children Ages 9-10 From the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study
Biological psychiatry (1969), Vol.95(10 Supplement), pp.S120-S121
05/15/2024
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.02.288
Abstract
Background
The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a small forebrain structure that detects uncertainty, responds to potential threat, and plays a role in anxiety behavior. However, human neuroimaging of the BNST has been limited due to its small size and location deep within the forebrain. Thus, it remains unknown how BNST connections develop in children or if variation in BNST connectivity is related to anxiety symptoms.
Methods
Participants with high-quality scans across all functional scan types in the ABCD study at baseline were identified in Chen et al 2022, resulting in a final sample of 1,798 participants. BNST was seeded with a published mask. Anxiety symptoms were measured using the Child Behavior Checklist parent-report t-scores. Linear regression was used to predict anxiety symptoms based on BNST connectivity.
Results
Consistent with previous findings, the BNST was functionally connected to subcortical regions, including the thalamus, caudate, nucleus accumbens, globus pallidus, amygdala, and hippocampus, and cortical regions, including insula, anterior and medial cingulate, medial prefrontal cortex, and temporal poles (all p < 0.001, corrected). Stronger connectivity between the BNST and rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) significantly predicted fewer anxiety symptoms in children (t=-2.7, p=0.008).
Conclusions
To our knowledge this is the largest study of BNST connectivity in children and the first to identify differences in BNST connectivity related to anxiety symptoms. The rACC modulates response to emotion. Evaluating BNST connectivity at longitudinal timepoints and how BNST connectivity may be linked to the development of other psychiatric symptoms will be critical next steps.
Funding Source
Louis V. Gerstner Scholar Award, Dupont-Warren Fellowship, Translational Neuroscience Training for Clinicians (NIMH 5T32MH112485), Mass General Neuroscience Translational Scholar Award, R01MH124694 (to J.L.R.), the Mass General Early Brain Development Initiative.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- 53. Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis Functional Connectivity in 1,798 Children Ages 9-10 From the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study
- Creators
- Jacqueline Clauss - Harvard UniversityKristina Kane - Massachusetts General HospitalLouis Vinke - Harvard UniversityKeiko Kunitoki - The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonJoshua Roffman - Harvard UniversityDaphne Holt - Massachusetts General Hospital
- Resource Type
- Abstract
- Publication Details
- Biological psychiatry (1969), Vol.95(10 Supplement), pp.S120-S121
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.02.288
- ISSN
- 0006-3223
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/15/2024
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry
- Record Identifier
- 9985223617202771
Metrics
1 Record Views