Cited by 35Functional Brain Connectivity StudiesHeart Rate Variability and Autonomic ControlPsychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

Gender- and Age-Specific Differences in Resting-State Functional Connectivity of the Central Autonomic Network in Adulthood

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Sie, Jia-Hong, Chen, Yin-Hua, Shiau, Yuo-Hsien, Chu, Woei-Chyn·2019·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

Abstract

Previous functional imaging studies have identified the role of central autonomic network (CAN) in autonomic regulation during various tasks. However, its variability with respect to gender and age, particularly in the resting state, remains poorly understood. Therefore, in this study we systematically investigated gender- and age-related differences in the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) seeded from core regions of this network, namely posterior mid-cingulate gyrus (pMCC), left amygdala, right anterior and left posterior insula, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), using a large cross-sectional adulthood sample. Results revealed that each of the seeded connectivity maps engaged in at least one of the large-scale brain networks including sensorimotor, attentional, basal ganglia, limbic, and default mode networks (DMN). In the early-adulthood stage, females had stronger negative rsFC in pMCC and right anterior INS (aINS) with the medial DMN than males, possibly reflecting their greater suppression of the sympathoexcitation associated with sex hormonal estrogen. Whereas in the late-adulthood stage, they showed stronger positive rsFC in pMCC with postcentral gyrus and weaker negative rsFC with the most DMN, possibly relating to their higher risk of depression, anxiety, and dementia than males after menopause. Moreover, females demonstrated reduced negative rsFC in pMCC with dorsal PCUN/PCC and left AG with advancing age, whereas males showed the opposite pattern, namely increased positive rsFC, in pMCC with right SMG, and in vmPFC with ventral PCUN. We interpret these results as their differences of altered autonomic regulation associated with pain experience and reflective movement, respectively, due to aging. In sum, our findings add in literature that autonomic responses can be also represented intrinsically in the resting brain, and gender- and age-related differences might be associated with sex hormones and sensorimotor abilities, respectively.

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Authors
Sie, J.-H., Chen, Y.-H., Shiau, Y.-H., & Chu, W.-C.
Affiliations
  • National Yang Ming University (TW)
  • National Chengchi University (TW)
Corresponding author
  • Shiau, Yuo-Hsien
  • Chu, Woei-Chyn
Venue
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
Published
2019-10-17
Volume
13
Pages
369-369
ISSN
1662-5161 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2980670460
Cited by
35
References
85
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 2
FWCI
2.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (MOST 106-2221-E-010-012, MOST 107-2634-F-075-001)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
Keywords
central autonomic network, resting-state functional connectivity, sex differences, age differences, anterior insula, amygdala, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, default mode network, autonomic regulation, estrogen, aging, menopause, sex hormones, pain experience, sensorimotor abilities

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