Bridging the self to the world: resting-state functional connectivity of the temporoparietal junction in post-traumatic stress disorder and its dissociative subtype.
Sandhya Narikuzhy, Sherain Harricharan, Daniela Rabellino, Maria Densmore, Jean Théberge, Jonathan M. Lieberman, Margaret C Mckinnon, Andrew A Nicholson, Ruth A. Lanius
NeuroImage. Clinical December 2, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2025.103920 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cross-sectional neuroimaging study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 184 |
| Population | Adults with PTSD (n=81), PTSD with dissociative subtype (n=49), and healthy controls (n=54) |
| Measures | Seed-based resting-state functional connectivity (SPM12, CONN); graph theoretical analyses |
| Topics | PTSD |
| Keywords | Parietal lobe Temporal lobe Nerve net Neural pathways Humans Magnetic resonance imaging Brain mapping Stress disorders, post-traumatic Dissociative disorders Middle aged Female Young adult FMRI Embodiment Bodily self-consciousness Temporoparietal junction PTSD Dissociative Subtype |
| Key findings | PTSD and its dissociative subtype showed distinct disruptions in TPJ resting-state connectivity: PTSD + DS had decreased right anterior TPJ connectivity with ventrolateral and dorsomedial prefrontal nodes, while PTSD had decreased left posterior TPJ connectivity with the left superior parietal lobule. Both groups showed decreased bilateral TPJ connectivity with the occipital lobe, and PTSD showed increased bilateral TPJ-cerebellum connectivity relative to PTSD + DS. The authors suggest graph findings may reflect a compensatory network in PTSD + DS. |
Abstract
Background: The temporoparietal junction (TPJ) is a cross-network hub involved in social cognition and attention, processes which are directly impacted by symptoms observed in clinical profiles of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its dissociative subtype (PTSD + DS).
Methods: Using SPM12 and CONN, seed-based TPJ resting-state functional connectivity patterns were analyzed in individuals with PTSD (n = 81), PTSD + DS (n = 49), and healthy controls (n = 54) using four seeds [right anterior TPJ (raTPJ), left anterior TPJ (laTPJ), right posterior TPJ (rpTPJ), left posterior TPJ (lpTPJ)]. Post-hoc graph theoretical analyses were performed for raTPJ connectivity in PTSD + DS and healthy controls.
Results: As compared to healthy controls, PTSD + DS showed decreased raTPJ functional connectivity with critical anterior frontal lobe nodes involved in the ventral attention and social cognition networks (i.e., left ventrolateral and dorsomedial prefrontal cortices). PTSD showed decreased lpTPJ functional connectivity with the left superior parietal lobule as compared to healthy controls. When comparing PTSD to PTSD + DS, we observed increased bilateral TPJ functional connectivity with the cerebellum. Lastly, compared to healthy controls, both PTSD and PTSD + DS displayed decreased bilateral TPJ functional connectivity with the occipital lobe. Graph theoretical analyses revealed that PTSD + DS showed limited raTPJ involvement and instead more efficient neural communication between occipital lobe and frontal lobe structures as compared to healthy controls, suggesting a possible compensatory neural network in PTSD + DS.
Conclusions: These findings reveal disruptions in TPJ neural circuitry in PTSD and PTSD + DS, which may carry cascading effects on intersecting neural networks involving the TPJ. Implications for psychotherapeutic treatments targeting disembodiment and social cognition are discussed.
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
Cites 18
- Out‐of‐body experience and autoscopy of neurological origin Brain January 15, 2004
- The Out-of-Body Experience: Disturbed Self-Processing at the Temporo-Parietal Junction The Neuroscientist January 4, 2005
- Trauma-related dissociation and altered states of consciousness: a call for clinical, treatment, and neuroscience research European Journal of Psychotraumatology May 19, 2015
- Sensory overload and imbalance: Resting-state vestibular connectivity in PTSD and its dissociative subtype. Neuropsychologia November 1, 2017
- Altered Sense of Body Ownership and Agency in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Its Dissociative Subtype: A Rubber Hand Illusion Study Frontiers in Human Neuroscience May 1, 2018
and 13 more in the library