Reproduced correlations between integrity of white matter tracts and self-reported anxiety

Abstract

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) allows us to evaluate the structural properties of white matter tracts which are associated with trait anxiety. However, in recent DTI studies of anxiety, research was focused mainly on selected white matter tracts, e.g. the uncinate fasciculus. At the same time, whole-brain structural connectivity has been rarely investigated in non-clinical populations. The present study aimed to explore correlations between white matter tract characteristics evaluated with the generalized fractional anisotropy (GFA) measure and state and trait anxiety inventory (STAI) scores at the whole-brain scale using the connectometry approach. In addition, we conducted psychological testing twice and examined the within-study reproducibility of these correlations. The results indicate reproduced correlations between both trait and state anxiety scores and GFA in the corpus callosum and association fibers predominantly in the right hemisphere, including the inferior, superior, and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and cingulum bundle. The associations with state anxiety are the same as with trait anxiety except for the negative one with GFA in the left cingulum. The findings point to the role of the integrity of these white matter tracts in susceptibility to high trait and state anxiety. The defined local connectome correlations with anxiety ratings could serve as targets for anxiety disorders preventive diagnostics.