The cerebellum after trauma: Resting-state functional connectivity of the cerebellum in posttraumatic stress disorder and its dissociative subtype.
Daniela Rabellino, Maria Densmore, Jean Théberge, Margaret C Mckinnon, Ruth A. Lanius
Human Brain Mapping April 17, 2018 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24081 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cross-sectional neuroimaging study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 149 |
| Population | Adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (n=65), its dissociative subtype (n=37), and non-trauma-exposed healthy controls (n=47) |
| Topics | PTSD |
| Keywords | Neural pathways Humans Magnetic resonance imaging Brain mapping Stress disorders, post-traumatic Dissociative disorders Adult Female Multisensory integration Resting-state functional connectivity Bodily self-consciousness Dissociative symptoms Anterior cerebellum Posterior cerebellum Emotion modulation Anterior vermis Crus i |
| Key findings | The authors report that each cerebellar region examined shows distinct functional connectivity alterations in PTSD, and that the dissociative subtype is distinguished from PTSD by decreased anterior cerebellar and anterior vermis connectivity with somatosensory, multisensory integration, and bodily self-consciousness regions, alongside increased posterior cerebellar connectivity with emotion-regulation areas. |
Abstract
The cerebellum plays a key role not only in motor function but also in affect and cognition. Although several psychopathological disorders have been associated with overall cerebellar dysfunction, it remains unclear whether different regions of the cerebellum contribute uniquely to psychopathology. Accordingly, we compared seed-based resting-state functional connectivity of the anterior cerebellum (lobule IV-V), of the posterior cerebellum (Crus I), and of the anterior vermis across posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; n = 65), its dissociative subtype (PTSD + DS; n = 37), and non-trauma-exposed healthy controls (HC; n = 47). Here, we observed decreased functional connectivity of the anterior cerebellum and anterior vermis with brain regions involved in somatosensory processing, multisensory integration, and bodily self-consciousness (temporo-parietal junction, postcentral gyrus, and superior parietal lobule) in PTSD + DS as compared to PTSD and HC. Moreover, the PTSD + DS group showed increased functional connectivity of the posterior cerebellum with cortical areas related to emotion regulation (ventromedial prefrontal and orbito-frontal cortex, subgenual anterior cingulum) as compared to PTSD. By contrast, PTSD showed increased functional connectivity of the anterior cerebellum with cortical areas associated with visual processing (fusiform gyrus), interoceptive awareness (posterior insula), memory retrieval, and contextual processing (hippocampus) as compared to HC. Finally, we observed decreased functional connectivity between the posterior cerebellum and prefrontal regions involved in emotion regulation, in PTSD as compared to HC. These findings not only highlight the crucial role of each cerebellar region examined in the psychopathology of PTSD but also reveal unique alterations in functional connectivity distinguishing the dissociative subtype of PTSD versus PTSD.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on PTSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A PILOT STUDY OF GROUP MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY (MBCT) FOR COMBAT VETERANS WITH POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) Veterans with chronic combat posttraumatic stress disorder seeking treatment at a VA... | 2013 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual comparison group | n = 37 |
| Resting‐state functional connectivity of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in post‐traumatic stress disorder and its dissociative subtype Adults with PTSD (n = 70), its dissociative subtype (n = 41), and healthy controls (n =... | 2017 | Cross-sectional resting-state fMRI study | n = 161 |
| Sensory overload and imbalance: Resting-state vestibular connectivity in PTSD and its dissociative subtype. Adults with PTSD, PTSD dissociative subtype, and healthy controls | 2017 | Cross-sectional, seed-based resting-state fMRI study | n = 141 |
| Altered Sense of Body Ownership and Agency in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Its Dissociative Subtype: A Rubber Hand Illusion Study Adults with PTSD (n=4), PTSD with dissociative subtype (n=6), and healthy controls (n=7) | 2018 | Case-control experimental study | n = 17 |
| Superior colliculus resting state networks in post‐traumatic stress disorder and its dissociative subtype Adults with PTSD (n = 67), its dissociative subtype (n = 41), and healthy controls (n =... | 2017 | Observational cross-sectional resting-state fMRI study | n = 158 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Post-traumatic stress disorder: evolving conceptualization and evidence, and future research directions. World Psychiatry February 1, 2025
- Effects of a dissociative drug on fronto-limbic resting-state functional connectivity in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled pilot study. Psychopharmacology October 23, 2023
- Functional Connectivity of the Auditory Cortex in Women With Trauma-Related Disorders Who Hear Voices. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging October 1, 2024
- The Vestibulocerebellum and the Shattered Self: a Resting-State Functional Connectivity Study in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Its Dissociative Subtype Cerebellum September 19, 2022
- Persistent Dissociation and its Neural Correlates Uniquely Predict Worse Outcomes after Trauma Exposure American Journal of Psychiatry June 22, 2022
and 2 more in the library
Cites 8
- Measurement of dissociative states with the Clinician‐Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS) Journal of Traumatic Stress 1998
- Trauma-related dissociation and altered states of consciousness: a call for clinical, treatment, and neuroscience research European Journal of Psychotraumatology May 19, 2015
- Resting‐state functional connectivity of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in post‐traumatic stress disorder and its dissociative subtype Human Brain Mapping December 20, 2017
- Sensory overload and imbalance: Resting-state vestibular connectivity in PTSD and its dissociative subtype. Neuropsychologia November 1, 2017
- Superior colliculus resting state networks in post‐traumatic stress disorder and its dissociative subtype Human Brain Mapping November 13, 2017
and 3 more in the library