Altered local gyrification index and corresponding resting-state functional connectivity in individuals with high test anxiety

Previous studies have reported that test anxiety is closely related to unreasonable cognitive patterns and maladaptive emotional responses. However, its underlying brain structural and functional basis has not been thoroughly studied. This study aimed to evaluate the potential difference in local gy...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological psychology 2022-10, Vol.174, p.108409-108409, Article 108409
Main Authors: Hou, Lulu, Zhang, Wenpei, Huang, Qiong, Zhou, Renlai
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Brain - diagnostic imaging
Brain Mapping - methods
Executive control network
Humans
Magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods
Sensorimotor network
Test Anxiety
Visual network
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Summary:Previous studies have reported that test anxiety is closely related to unreasonable cognitive patterns and maladaptive emotional responses. However, its underlying brain structural and functional basis has not been thoroughly studied. This study aimed to evaluate the potential difference in local gyration index (LGI) and corresponding resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) in individuals with high test anxiety (HTA) compared with low test anxiety (LTA). Twenty-six individuals with HTA and 28 individuals with LTA underwent T1-weighted structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. Using FreeSurfer software, we contrasted the LGI between the HTA and LTA groups using a surface-based general linear model to map group contrasts on a vertex-by-vertex basis. By selecting the cortical regions with significant differences in the LGI analysis as the regions of interest, the seed-based RSFC analysis was further carried out using the Resting-State fMRI Data Analysis Toolkit to examine the differences in the functional connectivity of these cortical regions with the whole brain between the two groups. The results showed that the LGI in several cortical regions of the executive control network (ECN) and the right lateral occipital gyrus was lower in the HTA group than in the LTA group. Furthermore, compared with the LTA group, the HTA group exhibited abnormal RSFC within the ECN, between the ECN and the visual network, and between the ECN and the sensorimotor network. Our findings might provide preliminary evidence for brain morphology and functional alterations in individuals with HTA and contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of TA. •This study aimed at altered LGI and corresponding RSFC in high test anxiety (HTA).•HTA group exhibited reduced LGI in ECN and right lateral occipital gyrus.•HTA group exhibited reduced RSFC within the ECN.•HTA group exhibited reduced RSFC between the ECN and the visual network.•HTA group exhibited abnormal RSFC between the ECN and the sensorimotor network.
ISSN:0301-0511
1873-6246
DOI:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2022.108409