Kathrine Skak Madsen1,2, Terry L. Jernigan1,2, Arnold Skimminge1,3, Erik Lykke Mortensen2,4, Gitte M. Knudsen2,5, William F.C. Baar1,2
1Danish Research Center for Magnetic Resonance, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark; 2Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Copenhagen, Denmark; 3DTU Informatics, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; 4Department of Health Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; 5Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
Amygdala and subgenual cingulate are linked to anxiety and mood disorders, for which the trait neuroticism is a risk factor. Left and right subgenual cingulate functional imbalances may contribute to behavioural and physical symptoms observed in depression. We investigated associations between neuroticism and cingulum FA in 45 healthy adults. DWI images were processed with TBSS to align main fibre tracts and ROIs were drawn in right and left cingulum. As hypothesized, cingulum FA laterality index (asymmetry) significantly predicted neuroticism. It is unclear whether cingulum FA asymmetry is a possible marker of increased risk of developing anxiety and mood disorders.