Abstract
Cognitive reappraisal (CR) is a mechanism for emotion regulation, and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a central role in the regulation of emotions. We tested the hypothesis of an association between CR function and microstructural properties of forceps minor (a commissural bundle within the PFC) in healthy subjects (HS). We analyzed a population of 65 young HS of a public dataset. The diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) sequence of every subject was analyzed to extract the derived shape (diameter and volume) and DTI metrics in terms of fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD), and axial diffusivity (AD) of the forceps minor. The CR subscale of the German version of the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) was used for CR assessment. The Shapiro–Wilk test was applied to test the assumption of normality in all these parameters, adopting a statistical threshold at p < 0.05. Whenever appropriate a non-parametric two-tailed partial correlation analysis was applied to test for correlations between the CR ERQ score and the derived shape and DTI metrics, including age and sex as confounders, adopting a statistical threshold at p < 0.05. The non-parametric two-tailed partial correlation analysis revealed a mildly significant correlation with FA (ρ = 0.303; p = 0.016), a weakly significant negative correlation with MD (ρ = − 0.269; p = 0.033), and a mildly significant negative correlation with RD (ρ = − 0.305; p = 0.015). These findings suggest a correlation between DTI microstructural properties of forceps minor and CR.
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Data Availability
The dataset analyzed during the current study derives from the public dataset “Leipzig Study for Mind–Body–Emotion Interactions” (LEMON) (Babayan et al. 2019); in the publication is reported the link to the data repository. All data generated specifically for the analyses of this study are included in this published article (and its supplementary information file).
Abbreviations
- ACC:
-
Anterior cingulate cortex
- AD:
-
Axial diffusivity
- ADHD:
-
Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder
- CR:
-
Cognitive reappraisal
- CR ERQ score:
-
Score of the Cognitive Reappraisal subscale of the German version of the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire.
- DAN:
-
Dorsal attention network
- DMN:
-
Default mode network
- DTI:
-
Diffusion tensor imaging
- DWI:
-
Diffusion weighted imaging
- ERQ:
-
Emotion regulation questionnaire
- FLAIR:
-
Fluid attenuated inversion recovery
- FA:
-
Fractional anisotropy
- fMRI:
-
Functional magnetic resonance imaging
- GE:
-
Gradient echo
- HS:
-
Healthy subjects
- LEMON:
-
Leipzig study for mind–body-emotion interactions
- MD:
-
Mean diffusivity
- MP2RAGE:
-
Magnetization prepared 2 rapid acquisition
- MRI:
-
Magnetic resonance imaging
- PFC:
-
Prefrrontal cortex
- ROA:
-
Region of avoidance
- RD:
-
Radial diffusivity
- rs-FC:
-
Resting-state functional connectivity
- SWI:
-
Susceptibility-weighted imaging
- W:
-
W-value
- WM:
-
White matter
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Conceptualization, MP, LC; Methodology MP; Validation MP, LC; Data Curation MP, RC; Investigation MP, LC; Writing—Original Draft, MP, LC, RC, LS; Writing—Review and Editing, LS, JSS, LM, YQ, MM; Supervision, LS, LM, JP, YQ.
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Ethical approval was not required because the study was performed exploiting the public dataset “Leipzig Study for Mind–Body–Emotion Interactions” (LEMON) (Babayan et al. 2019).
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Porcu, M., Cocco, L., Cau, R. et al. Correlation of Cognitive Reappraisal and the Microstructural Properties of the Forceps Minor: A Deductive Exploratory Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study. Brain Topogr 37, 63–74 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10548-023-01020-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10548-023-01020-4