Trait anger representation in microstructural white matter tracts: A diffusion MRI study

Zeinab Sinaeifar, Mahsa Mayeli, Mahdieh Shafie, Atefe Pooyan, Giulia Cattarinussi, Mohammad Hadi Aarabi, Fabio Sambataro
Journal of Affective Disorders. 2023-02-01; 322: 249-257
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.11.020

1. J Affect Disord. 2023 Feb 1;322:249-257. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.11.020. Epub
2022 Nov 8.

Trait anger representation in microstructural white matter tracts: A diffusion
MRI study.

Sinaeifar Z(1), Mayeli M(2), Shafie M(1), Pooyan A(3), Cattarinussi G(4), Aarabi
MH(4), Sambataro F(5).

Author information:
(1)School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
(2)School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
NeuroTRACT Association, Students’ Scientific Research Center, Tehran University
of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
(3)Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
(4)Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, Padua, Italy; Padova
Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
(5)Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, Padua, Italy; Padova
Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padua, Italy. Electronic address:
.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the microstructure of the brain that underlies
emotions is of pivotal importance for psychology and psychiatry. Herein, we
investigated white matter (WM) tracts associated with anger using the diffusion
magnetic resonance imaging (DMRI) connectometry approach while exploring
potential sex differences.
METHODS: 225 healthy participants from the LEMON database were evaluated using
the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI). WM images were prepared and
analyzed with DMRI. Multiple regression models were fitted to address the
correlation of local connectomes with STAXI components with age and handedness
as covariates.
RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in state anger and
trait anger between males and females (p = 0.55 and 0.30, respectively). DMRI
connectometry revealed that quantitative anisotropy (QA) values in the bilateral
corticospinal tract (CST), splenium of corpus callosum (SCC), middle cerebellar
peduncle, left inferior cerebellar peduncle, left cingulum, and left fornix were
negatively correlated with trait anger and trait anger temperament (TAT) in
males. In contrast, the QA values in the bilateral CST and SCC showed a positive
correlation with trait anger and TAT in females, which, however, did not reach
statistical significance.
LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design and self-reported measures of anger
limit the generalizability of our results.
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first DMRI connectometry study to investigate WM
circuits involved in anger. We found that the pathways associated with the
limbic system and movement-related regions were involved in trait anger and
anger expression in men, while no brain pathways showed a significant
relationship with anger in women.