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• Clinical Article •
Study on the characteristics of resting-state and dynamic functional connectivity of the bilateral amygdala in generalized anxiety disorder: A functional MRI research
ZHANG Lei  WANG Xiaoling  SUN Jifei  CAO Jiudong  HONG Yang  LUO Ping  SUN Li  LÜ Xueyu  LIU Jun  LAI Jingling  FANG Jiliang  LANG Xuesen 

Cite this article as: ZHANG L, WANG X L, SUN J F, et al. Study on the characteristics of resting-state and dynamic functional connectivity of the bilateral amygdala in generalized anxiety disorder: A functional MRI research[J]. Chin J Magn Reson Imaging, 2025,16(5): 49-53, 61. DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2025.05.008.


[Abstract] Objective To observe the abnormal characteristics of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) through resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) and dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) methods.Materials and Methods A total of 35 patients with GAD and 35 healthy controls (HC) were prospectively recruited. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were collected for both groups, using the amygdala as a seed point to observe the abnormalities in rs-FC and dFC of the bilateral amygdala. Additionally, a correlation analysis was conducted between the differential brain regions and clinical symptoms.Results In terms of rs-FC, the GAD group exhibited reduced rs-FC between the left amygdala and the left orbitofrontal cortex, left postcentral gyrus, left superior occipital gyrus, and left middle temporal (t = -2.236, -2.220, -2.222, -2.230, P < 0.005) gyrus compared to the HC group. The right amygdala also demonstrated decreased rs-FC with the left middle frontal gyrus, left supplementary motor area, and left postcentral gyrus (t = -2.236, -2.220, -2.222, -2.230, P < 0.005) in the GAD group. Regarding dFC, the GAD group showed reduced dFC between the left amygdala and the right middle temporal gyrus (t = -2.236, -2.220, P < 0.005), as well as the left precuneus compared to HCs. The right amygdala's dFC with the right orbitofrontal cortex and right insula (t = -2.297, -2.296, P < 0.005) was also lower in the GAD group. Furthermore, there was a negative correlation between the rs-FC value of the right amygdala and the left middle frontal gyrus and the Hamilton Depression Scale 17 (HAMD-17) score in the GAD group (r = -0.425, P = 0.013).Conclusions Patients with GAD exhibit abnormal static and dynamic functional connectivity of the amygdala with local brain regions, primarily involving the reward network, default mode network, frontoparietal network, and visual network. This study provides valuable insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the abnormal brain functional activity in GAD.
[Keywords] generalized anxiety disorder；amygdala；resting-state functional connectivity；dynamic functional connectivity；magnetic resonance imaging

ZHANG Lei1   WANG Xiaoling1   SUN Jifei1, 2   CAO Jiudong1   HONG Yang1   LUO Ping1   SUN Li1   LÜ Xueyu1   LIU Jun1   LAI Jingling1   FANG Jiliang1   LANG Xuesen1*  

1 Department of Radiology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China

2 Department of Neurology, Shunyi Hospital, Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Beijing 101300, China

Corresponding author: LANG X S, E-mail: wolangba@163.com

Conflicts of interest   None.

Received  2024-11-16
Accepted  2025-05-10
DOI: 10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2025.05.008
Cite this article as: ZHANG L, WANG X L, SUN J F, et al. Study on the characteristics of resting-state and dynamic functional connectivity of the bilateral amygdala in generalized anxiety disorder: A functional MRI research[J]. Chin J Magn Reson Imaging, 2025,16(5): 49-53, 61. DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2025.05.008.

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