Gray space and default mode network-amygdala connectivity.
Julia C. Harris, Michael T Liuzzi, Carlos Cardenas-Iniguez, Christine L Larson, Krista M. Lisdahl
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2023 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1167786 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cross-sectional study (secondary analysis of ABCD Study baseline data) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 10,144 |
| Population | Youth in the ABCD Study at baseline (n = 10,144; mean age 119.11 months; 47.62% female) |
| Topics | Default mode network |
| Keywords | Amygdala FMRI Gray space Resting state |
| Key findings | More gray space (impervious surfaces) was associated with increased left amygdala-default mode network connectivity after adjusting for age, sex, and neighborhood-level variables, and the association remained significant in sensitivity analyses for race. No significant correlations were found between amygdala-DMN connectivity and internalizing or externalizing symptoms. The authors suggest gray space may relate to connectivity alterations that could enhance risk for emotion dysregulation, and that neuroimaging findings may represent early dysregulation not yet observed in behavioral analyses at this age. |
Abstract
Aspects of the built environment relate to health factors and equity in living conditions, and may contribute to racial, ethnic, or economic health disparities. For example, urbanicity is linked with negative factors including exposure to gray space (e.g., impervious surfaces such as concrete, streets, or rooftops). While there is existing research on access to green space and urbanicity on some mental health and cognitive outcomes, there is limited research on the presence of gray space linked with cognitive functioning in youth. The goal of this study was to investigate the link between gray space and amygdala-default mode network (DMN) connectivity. This study used data from the ABCD Study. Participants (n = 10,144; age M = 119.11 months, female = 47.62%) underwent resting-state fMRI acquisition at baseline. Impervious surfaces (gray space) were measured via the Child Opportunity Index (COI). To examine the relationship between presence of gray space and -amygdala-DMN (left/right) connectivity, we employed linear mixed effects models. Correlations were run between amygdala-DMN connectivity and internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Finally, post hoc sensitivity analyses were run to assess the impact of race. More gray space, adjusting for age, sex, and neighborhood-level variables, was significantly associated with increased left amygdala-DMN connectivity (p = 0.0001). This association remained significant after sensitivity analyses for race were completed (p = 0.01). No significant correlations were observed between amygdala-DMN and internalizing or externalizing symptoms. Findings suggest gray space was linked with increased left amygdala-DMN connectivity, circuits that have been implicated in affective processing, emotion regulation, and psychopathology. Thus gray space may be related to alterations in connectivity that may enhance risk for emotion dysregulation. Future investigation of these relationships is needed, as neuroimaging findings may represent early dysregulation not yet observed in the behavioral analyses at this age (i.e., the present study did not find significant relationships with parent-reported behavioral outcomes). These findings can help to inform future public policy on improving lived and built environments.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on default mode network, most cited first.