Brain structural connectivity and neuroticism in healthy adults

Abstract

Understanding the neural correlates of the neurotic brain is important because neuroticism is a risk factor for the development of psychopathology. We examined the correlation between brain structural networks and neuroticism based on NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) scores. Fifty-one healthy participants (female, n = 18; male, n = 33; mean age, 38.5 ± 11.7 years) underwent the NEO-FFI test and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including diffusion tensor imaging and 3D T1WI. Using MRI data, for each participant, we constructed whole-brain interregional connectivity matrices by deterministic tractography and calculated the graph theoretical network measures, including the characteristic path length, global clustering coefficient, small-worldness, and betweenness centrality (BET) in 83 brain regions from the Desikan-Killiany atlas with subcortical segmentation using FreeSurfer. In relation to the BET, neuroticism score had a negative correlation in the left isthmus cingulate cortex, left superior parietal, left superior temporal, right caudal middle frontal, and right entorhinal cortices, and a positive correlation in the bilateral frontal pole, left caudal anterior cingulate cortex, and left fusiform gyrus. No other measurements showed significant correlations. Our results imply that the brain regions related to neuroticism exist in various regions, and that the neuroticism trait is likely formed as a result of interactions among these regions. This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Comprehensive Brain Science Network) from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan.

Figure 1

Overview of the data processing and analysis. 3D T1WI, three-dimensional T1-weighted imaging; DTI, diffusion tensor imaging; CPL, characteristic path length; GCC, global clustering coefficient; SMW, small-worldness; BET, betweenness centrality; NEO-FFI, NEO Five-Factor Inventory; LASSO, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator.

Figure 2

The brain regions for which a significant association was observed between betweenness centrality (BET) and the neuroticism score. The regions with positive and negative associations are indicated with red and blue circles, respectively. lt., left; rt., right; S.E., standard error.