The Threatful Self: Midbrain Functional Connectivity to CorticalMidline and Parietal Regions During Subliminal Trauma-Related Processing inPTSD

摘要

The innate alarm system consists of a subcortical network of interconnectedmidbrain, lower brainstem, and thalamic nuclei, which together mediate thedetection of evolutionarily-relevant stimuli. The periaqueductal gray is amidbrain structure innervated by the innate alarm system that coordinatesthe expression of defensive states following threat detection. Inparticipants with post-traumatic stress disorder, the periaqueductal graydisplays overactivation during the subliminal presentation of trauma-relatedstimuli as well as altered resting-state functional connectivity. Aberrantfunctional connectivity is also reported in post-traumatic stress disorderfor the default-mode network, a large-scale brain network recruited duringself-referential processing and autobiographical memory. Here, researchlacks investigation on the extent to which functional interactions aredisplayed between the midbrain and the large-scale cortical networks inpost-traumatic stress disorder.