Altered Prefrontal Cortex Function Marks Heightened Anxiety Risk in Children.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Anxiety disorders are prevalent and cause substantial disability. An important risk factor for anxiety disorders is inhibited temperament, the tendency to be shy and to avoid new situations. Inhibited adults have heightened amygdala activation and less flexible engagement of the prefrontal cortex (PFC); however, it remains unknown whether these brain alterations are present in inhibited children before the onset of anxiety disorders.

Method

A total of 37 children (18 inhibited and 19 uninhibited), 8 to 10 years of age, completed a task testing anticipation and viewing of threat stimuli and social stimuli in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. Brain activation and functional connectivity were measured.

Results

During the anticipation of threat stimu

SUBMITTER: Clauss JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5003319 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature