Distinct patterns of hippocampal subfield volumes predict coping strategies, emotion regulation, and impulsivity in healthy adults

1. Brain Imaging Behav. 2024 Oct;18(5):1100-1120. doi:
10.1007/s11682-024-00904-8. Epub 2024 Aug 6.

Distinct patterns of hippocampal subfield volumes predict coping strategies,
emotion regulation, and impulsivity in healthy adults.

Fallahi MS(1)(2), Sahebekhtiari K(1)(3), Hosseini H(1)(2), Aliasin MM(1)(2),
Noroozi M(1)(4), Moghadam Fard A(1)(5), Aarabi MH(6)(7), Gulisashvili D(8),
Shafie M(9), Mayeli M(10)(11).

Author information:
(1)NeuroTRACT International Association, Tehran, Iran.
(2)School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
(3)School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
(4)Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran,
Iran.
(5)School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
(6)Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
(7)Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
(8)Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of
Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
(9)School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
.
(10)NeuroTRACT International Association, Tehran, Iran.
.
(11)Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of
Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. .

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that the hippocampus (HC) is involved
in cognitive and behavioral functions beyond memory. We aimed to investigate how
the volume of each subfield of the HC is associated with distinct patterns of
coping strategies, emotion regulation, and impulsivity in a healthy population.
METHODS: We studied a total of 218 healthy subjects using the Leipzig
mind-brain-body dataset. Participants were assessed for coping strategies,
emotion regulation, and impulsivity using the Cognitive Emotion Regulation
Questionnaire (CERQ), Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE),
Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS), and Behavioral Activation and Inhibition System
(BAS/BIS). The associations between HC subfield volumes including CA1, CA2/3,
CA4/DG, SR-SL-SM, and subiculum, and behavioral scores were examined using
multiple linear regression models adjusted for possible confounders, including
age, sex, years of education, handedness, total intracranial volume (ICV), and
HC volume.
RESULTS: The use of emotional support, venting, and positive reframing coping
strategies were significantly and positively correlated with total, total right,
and total left HC volumes. Venting was significantly associated with CA1 after
adjusting for age, sex, handedness, and education (P=0.001, B = 0.265,
P-FDR = 0.005). No significant association was observed between CERQ subscales
and HC subfield volumes after controlling for confounders and multiple analyses.
However, sensation-seeking subscale of the UPPS-P was positively correlated with
total and right CA2-CA3 volumes after adjustments for age, sex, handedness, ICV,
and HC volumes (P=0.002, B = 0.266, P-FDR = 0.035). BAS and BIS subscales did
not show significant relationship with HC subfield volumes.
CONCLUSION: Patterns of HC subfields volumes are associated with
coping strategies, impulsivity, and emotion regulation. In particular, using
emotional support, positive reframing, venting, and sensation seeking
are significantly associated with certain HC subfield volumes. These findings
suggest that the hippocampus may play a crucial role in modulating emotional
responses and behavioral adaptations, offering potential targets for therapeutic
interventions.

© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business
Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

DOI: 10.1007/s11682-024-00904-8
PMID: 39103671 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Conflict of interest statement: Declarations. Human Ethics and Consent for
Participation: This study was conducted using Leipzig mind-brain-body dataset.
The dataset is ethically approved and conducted in accordance with the
Declaration of Helsinki. Participants who were included in the study provided
written informed consent prior to any data acquisition for the Leipzig
mind-brain-body study. Details of ethical considerations are available elsewhere
(Babayan et al., 2019). Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no competing
interests.

Auteurs Bordeaux Neurocampus