Dataset Information

GABA in the insula - a predictor of the neural response to interoceptive awareness.

ABSTRACT: The insula has been identified as a key region involved in interoceptive awareness. Whilst imaging studies have investigated the neural activation patterns in this region involved in intero- and exteroceptive awareness, the underlying biochemical mechanisms still remain unclear. In order to investigate these, a well-established fMRI task targeting interoceptive awareness (heartbeat counting) and exteroceptive awareness (tone counting) was combined with magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Controlling for physiological noise, neural activity in the insula during intero- and exteroceptive awareness was confirmed in an independent data sample using the same fMRI design. Focussing on MRS values from the left insula and combining them with neural activity during intero- and exteroceptive awareness in the same healthy individuals, we demonstrated that GABA concentration in a region highly involved in interoceptive processing is correlated with neural responses to interoceptive stimuli, as opposed to exteroceptive stimuli. In addition, both GABA and interoceptive signal changes in the insula predicted the degree of depressed affect, as measured by the Beck Hopelessness Scale. On the one hand, the association between GABA concentration and neural activity during interoceptive awareness provides novel insight into the biochemical underpinnings of insula function and interoception. On the other, through the additional association of both GABA and neural activity during interoception with depressed affect, these data also bear potentially important implications for psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety, where GABAergic deficits, altered insula function and abnormal affect coincide.

SUBMITTER: Wiebking C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4386686 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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GABA in the insula - a predictor of the neural response to interoceptive awareness.

Wiebking Christine C Duncan Niall W NW Tiret Brice B Hayes Dave J DJ Marjaǹska Małgorzata M Doyon Julien J Bajbouj Malek M Northoff Georg G

NeuroImage 20130422

The insula has been identified as a key region involved in interoceptive awareness. Whilst imaging studies have investigated the neural activation patterns in this region involved in intero- and exteroceptive awareness, the underlying biochemical mechanisms still remain unclear. In order to investigate these, a well-established fMRI task targeting interoceptive awareness (heartbeat counting) and exteroceptive awareness (tone counting) was combined with magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Cont ...[more]

PMID: 23618604

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Project description:Interoceptive awareness (IA), the subjective and conscious perception of visceral and physiological signals from the body, has been associated with functions of cortical and subcortical neural systems involved in emotion control, mood and anxiety disorders. We recently hypothesized that IA and its contributions to mental health are realized by a brain interoception network (BIN) linking brain regions that receive ascending interoceptive information from the brainstem, such as the amygdala, insula and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). However, little evidence exists to support this hypothesis. In order to test this hypothesis, we used a publicly available dataset that contained both anatomical neuroimaging data and an objective measure of IA assessed with a heartbeat detection task. Whole-brain Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM) was used to investigate the association of IA with gray matter volume (GMV) and the structural covariance network (SCN) of the amygdala, insula and ACC. The relationship between IA and mental health was investigated with questionnaires that assessed depressive symptoms and anxiety. We found a positive correlation between IA and state anxiety, but not with depressive symptoms. In the VBM analysis, only the GMV of the left anterior insula showed a positive association with IA. A similar association was observed between the parcellated GMV of the left dorsal agranular insula, located in the anterior insula, and IA. The SCN linking the right dorsal agranular insula with the left dorsal agranular insula and left hyper-granular insula were positively correlated with IA. No association between GMV or SCN and depressive symptoms or anxiety were observed. These findings revealed a previously unknown association between IA, insula volume and intra-insula SCNs. These results may support development of non-invasive neuroimaging interventions, e.g., neurofeedback, seeking to improve IA and to prevent development of mental health problems, such anxiety disorders.

Dataset Information

GABA in the insula - a predictor of the neural response to interoceptive awareness.

Publications

GABA in the insula - a predictor of the neural response to interoceptive awareness.

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