Pre-COVID brain network topology prospectively predicts social anxiety alterations during the COVID-19 pandemic

Li, Q, Zhang, X, Yang, X, Pan, N, Li, X, Kemp, GJ ORCID: 0000-0002-8324-9666, Wang, S and Gong, Q (2023) Pre-COVID brain network topology prospectively predicts social anxiety alterations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Neurobiology of Stress, 27. 100578-.

Access the full-text of this item by clicking on the Open Access link.

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100578

Abstract

Background: Social anxiety (SA) is a negative emotional response that can lead to mental health issues, which some have experienced during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Little attention has been given to the neurobiological mechanisms underlying inter-individual differences in SA alterations related to COVID-19. This study aims to identify neurofunctional markers of COVID-specific SA development. Methods: 110 healthy participants underwent resting-state magnetic resonance imaging and behavioral tests before the pandemic (T1, October 2019 to January 2020) and completed follow-up behavioral measurements during the pandemic (T2, February to May 2020). We constructed individual functional networks and used graph theoretical analysis to estimate their global and nodal topological properties, then used Pearson correlation and partial least squares correlations examine their associations with COVID-specific SA alterations. Results: In terms of global network parameters, SA alterations (T2-T1) were negatively related to pre-pandemic brain small-worldness and normalized clustering coefficient. In terms of nodal network parameters, SA alterations were positively linked to a pronounced degree centrality pattern, encompassing both the high-level cognitive networks (dorsal attention network, cingulo-opercular task control network, default mode network, memory retrieval network, fronto-parietal task control network, and subcortical network) and low-level perceptual networks (sensory/somatomotor network, auditory network, and visual network). These findings were robust after controlling for pre-pandemic general anxiety, other stressful life events, and family socioeconomic status, as well as by treating SA alterations as categorical variables. Conclusions: The individual functional network associated with SA alterations showed a disrupted topological organization with a more random state, which may shed light on the neurobiological basis of COVID-related SA changes at the network level.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	COVID-19 pandemic, Functional brain network, Graph theory, Psychoradiology, Resting-state fMRI, Social anxiety
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Life Courses and Medical Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	16 Oct 2023 08:34
Last Modified:	30 Oct 2023 03:37
DOI:	10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100578
Open Access URL:	https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/...
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3173720