Modulatory effects of actual and imagined acupuncture on the functional connectivity of the periaqueductal grey and ventral tegmental area

IntroductionImpaired motivation is considered a fundamental aspect of the Avolition domain of negative symptoms. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) contains the highest number of DA neurons projecting to the brain areas involved in motivation-related processes.AimThe aim of our study was to investigate by functional MRI the resting-state functional connectivity (RS-FC) of the VTA in patients with schizophrenia and its relationships with real-life motivation and avolition.MethodThe RS-FC was investigated in 22 healthy controls (HC) and in 26 schizophrenia patients (SCZ) treated with second generation antipsychotics only and divided in high (HA = 13) and low avolition (LA = 13) subgroups. We used the Quality of Life Scale and the Schedule for the Deficit Syndrome to assess real-life motivation and avolition, respectively.ResultsHA, as compared to LA and HC, showed a reduced RS-FC of VTA with the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (R VLPFC), right posterior insula (R pINS) and right lateral occipital cortex (R LOC). The RS-FC for these regions was positively correlated with motivation in the whole sample and negatively correlated with avolition in schizophrenia patients.ConclusionOur findings demonstrate that motivational deficits in schizophrenia patients are linked to reduced functional connectivity in the DA circuit involved in retrieval of the outcome values of different actions to guide behavior. Further characterization of the factors modulating the functional connectivity in this circuit might foster the development of innovative treatments for avolition.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Mind-Body Exercise Modulates Locus Coeruleus and Ventral Tegmental Area Functional Connectivity in Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnagi.2021.646807 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

Author(s):

Jiao Liu ◽

Jing Tao ◽

Rui Xia ◽

Moyi Li ◽

Maomao Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Locus Coeruleus ◽

Ventral Tegmental Area ◽

Control Group ◽

Brisk Walking ◽

Area Functional ◽

Ventral Tegmental ◽

The Right

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a common global health problem. Recently, the potential of mind-body intervention for MCI has drawn the interest of investigators. This study aims to comparatively explore the modulation effect of Baduanjin, a popular mind-body exercise, and physical exercise on the cognitive function, as well as the norepinephrine and dopamine systems using the resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) method in patients with MCI. 69 patients were randomized to the Baduanjin, brisk walking, or healthy education control group for 6 months. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were applied at baseline and at the end of the experiment. Results showed that (1) compared to the brisk walking, the Baduanjin significantly increased MoCA scores; (2) Baduanjin significantly increased the right locus coeruleus (LC) and left ventral tegmental area (VTA) rsFC with the right insula and right amygdala compared to that of the control group; and the right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) compared to that of the brisk walking group; (3) the increased right LC-right insula rsFC and right LC-right ACC rsFC were significantly associated with the corresponding MoCA score after 6-months of intervention; (4) both exercise groups experienced an increased effective connectivity from the right ACC to the left VTA compared to the control group; and (5) Baduanjin group experienced an increase in gray matter volume in the right ACC compared to the control group. Our results suggest that Baduanjin can significantly modulate intrinsic functional connectivity and the influence of the norepinephrine (LC) and dopamine (VTA) systems. These findings may shed light on the mechanisms of mind-body intervention and aid the development of new treatments for MCI.

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