Abstract
BackgroundCompulsive sexual behaviors (CSB) are relatively common and associated with significant personal and social dysfunction. The underlying neurobiology is still poorly understood. The present study examines brain volumes and resting state functional connectivity in CSB compared with matched healthy volunteers (HV).MethodsStructural MRI (MPRAGE) data were collected in 92 subjects (23 CSB males and 69 age‐matched male HV) and analyzed using voxel‐based morphometry. Resting state functional MRI data using multi‐echo planar sequence and independent components analysis (ME‐ICA) were collected in 68 subjects (23 CSB subjects and 45 age‐matched HV).ResultsCSB subjects showed greater left amygdala gray matter volumes (small volume corrected, Bonferroni adjusted P < 0.01) and reduced resting state functional connectivity between the left amygdala seed and bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (whole brain, cluster corrected FWE P < 0.05) compared with HV.ConclusionsCSB is associated with elevated volumes in limbic regions relevant to motivational salience and emotion processing, and impaired functional connectivity between prefrontal control regulatory and limbic regions. Future studies should aim to assess longitudinal measures to investigate whether these findings are risk factors that predate the onset of the behaviors or are consequences of the behaviors. Hum Brain Mapp 38:1182–1190, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Highlights
Compulsive sexual behavior (CSB), known as hypersexual disorder or sexual addiction, is relatively common [Kraus et al, 2016] and associated with significant distress and psychosocial impairments, including being characterized by craving, impulsivity, and social and occupational impairment [Kraus et al, 2016]
We examine resting state functional connectivity of individuals with Compulsive sexual behaviors (CSB) and matched healthy volunteers (HV) with a novel multi-echo planar sequence and independent components analysis (ME-ICA) wherein BOLD signals are identified as independent components with linear echo time (TE)-dependent signal change whereas nonBOLD signals are identified as TE-independent components [Kundu et al, 2012]
We investigated structural and functional neural differences in individuals with CSB compared with matched HV
Summary
Compulsive sexual behavior (CSB), known as hypersexual disorder or sexual addiction, is relatively common (estimated at 3%–6%) [Kraus et al, 2016] and associated with significant distress and psychosocial impairments, including being characterized by craving, impulsivity, and social and occupational impairment [Kraus et al, 2016]. The present study examines brain volumes and resting state functional connectivity in CSB compared with matched healthy volunteers (HV). Resting state functional MRI data using multi-echo planar sequence and independent components analysis (ME-ICA) were collected in 68 subjects (23 CSB subjects and 45 age-matched HV). Results: CSB subjects showed greater left amygdala gray matter volumes (small volume corrected, Bonferroni adjusted P < 0.01) and reduced resting state functional connectivity between the left amygdala seed and bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (whole brain, cluster corrected FWE P < 0.05) compared with HV.
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