Journal article
Intrinsic functional connectivity of periaqueductal gray subregions in humans
Human brain mapping, v 37(4), pp 1514-1530
Apr 2016
PMID: 26821847
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
The periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) is a key brain region of the descending pain modulation pathway. It is also involved in cardiovascular functions, anxiety, and fear; however, little is known about PAG subdivisions in humans. The aims of this study were to use resting-state fMRI-based functional connectivity (FC) to parcellate the human PAG and to determine FC of its subregions. To do this, we acquired resting-state fMRI scans from 79 healthy subjects and (1) used a data-driven method to parcellate the PAG, (2) used predefined seeds in PAG subregions to evaluate PAG FC to the whole brain, and (3) examined sex differences in PAG FC. We found that clustering of the left and right PAG yielded similar patterns of caudal, middle, and rostral subdivisions in the coronal plane, and dorsal and ventral subdivisions in the sagittal plane. FC analysis of predefined subregions revealed that the ventolateral(VL)-PAG was supfunctionally connected to brain regions associated with descending pain modulation (anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), upper pons/medulla), whereas the lateral (L) and dorsolateral (DL) subregions were connected with brain regions implicated in executive functions (prefrontal cortex, striatum, hippocampus). We also found sex differences in FC including areas implicated in pain, salience, and analgesia including the ACC and the insula in women, and the MCC, parahippocampal gyrus, and the temporal pole in men. The organization of the human PAG thus provides a framework to understand the circuitry underlying the broad range of responses to pain and its modulation in men and women. Hum Brain Mapp 37:1514-1530, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Details
- Title
- Intrinsic functional connectivity of periaqueductal gray subregions in humans
- Creators
- Marie-Andree Coulombe - Univ Hlth Network, Toronto Western Hosp, Div Brain Imaging & Behav Syst, Krembil Res Inst, Toronto, ON, CanadaNathalie Erpelding - Toronto Western HospitalAaron Kucyi - Toronto Western HospitalKaren Deborah Davis - Toronto Western Hospital
- Publication Details
- Human brain mapping, v 37(4), pp 1514-1530
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 17
- Grant note
- MOP 10626 / Canadian Institutes of Health Research; Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000372296500017
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84958191643
- Other Identifier
- 991021448052804721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Neuroimaging
- Neurosciences
- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging