Cited by 90Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesMemory and Neural Mechanisms

Structural evidence for involvement of a left amygdala-orbitofrontal network in subclinical anxiety

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Blackmon, Karen, Barr, William B., Carlson, Chad, Devinsky, Orrin, DuBois, Jonathan, Pogash, Daniel, Quinn, Brian T., Kuzniecky, Ruben +2 more·2011·Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging

Abstract

Functional neuroimaging implicates hyperactivity of amygdala-orbitofrontal circuitry as a common neurobiological mechanism underlying the development of anxiety. Less is known about anxiety-related structural differences in this network. In this study, a sample of healthy adults with no history of anxiety disorders completed a 3T MRI scan and self-report mood inventories. Post-processing quantitative MRI image analysis included segmentation and volume estimation of subcortical structures, which were regressed on anxiety inventory scores, with depression scores used to establish discriminant validity. We then used a quantitative vertex-based post-processing method to correlate (1) anxiety scores and (2) left amygdala volumes with cortical thickness across the whole cortical mantle. Left amygdala volumes predicted anxiety, with decreased amygdala volume associated with higher anxiety on both state and trait anxiety measures. A negative correlation between left amygdala volume and cortical thickness overlapped with a positive correlation between anxiety and cortical thickness in left lateral orbitofrontal cortex. These results suggest a structural anxiety network that corresponds with a large body of evidence from functional neuroimaging. Such findings raise the possibility that structural abnormalities may result in a greater vulnerability to anxiety or conversely that elevated anxiety symptoms may result in focal structural changes.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2011.05.007

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  • Findings in the amygdala regions for anxious vs. non-anxious adolescents are less clear, with some studies reporting larger volumes in the right and left amygdala, specifically the basolateral amygdala, smaller volumes in the left amygdala, or no difference in amygdala volume.

    “Findings in the amygdala regions for anxious vs. non-anxious adolescents are less clear, with some studies reporting larger volumes in the right and left amygdala, specifically the basolateral amygdala35,36, smaller volumes in the left amygdala31,37,38 or no difference in amygdala volume39.”

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Authors
Blackmon, K., Barr, W. B., Carlson, C., Devinsky, O., DuBois, J., Pogash, D., Quinn, B. T., Kuzniecky, R., Halgren, E., & Thesen, T.
Affiliations
  • New York University (US)
  • University of California San Diego (US)
Corresponding author
Thesen, Thomas
Venue
Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2011-12
Volume
194
Issue
3
Pages
296-303
ISSN
0925-4927 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1974243531
Cited by
90
References
99
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 6
FWCI
9.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS-44623, NS 18741, R01NS044623, R01NS018741)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Keywords
subclinical anxiety, left amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala volume, cortical thickness, subcortical structures, state anxiety, trait anxiety, anxiety vulnerability, structural neuroimaging
MeSH terms
Adult, Amygdala, Anxiety, Brain Mapping, Female, Humans, Functional Laterality, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Neural Pathways, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Prefrontal Cortex, Young Adult

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