Page 279 - MEGIN Book Of Abstracts - 2023

II MEG data) SVR models were generated for compari- studies indicating DMN's susceptibility to stress-related
son. Assessed with holdout test data, alpha and high conditions, we examined links between variability on
gamma bands showed enhanced predictive perfor- oxytocin-pathway genes and DMN connectivity in
mance with the longitudinal models comparing to the youth exposed to chronic war-related trauma Methods:
Phase I single timepoint models. The best predictive Following a cohort of war-exposed children from early
performance was observed for lower frequency ranges childhood, we imaged the brains of 74 preadolescents
compared to the higher frequencies (low gamma), for (age 11-13 years; 39 war-exposed) during rest using
both model types.Significance. This study identified magnetoencephalography (MEG). A cumulative risk
the neural oscillatory signatures that benefited from index on oxytocin-pathway genes was constructed by
additional temporal information when estimating the combining single nucleotide polymorphisms on five
outcome of PTSD severity using MEG functional con- genes previously linked with social deficits and psycho-
nectome data. Crucially, this approach can similarly be pathology; OXTR rs1042778, OXTR rs2254298, OX-
applied to any other mental health challenge, using TRrs53576, CD38 rs3796863, and AVPR1A RS3. Avoidant
this effective informatics foundation for longitudinal response to trauma reminders in early childhood and
tracking of pathological brain states and predicting anxiety disorders in late childhood were assessed as
outcome with a MEG-based neurophysiology imaging predictors of disruptions to DMN theta connectivity.
system. Results: Higher vulnerability on oxytocin-pathway
genes predicted greater disruptions to DMN theta con-
Keywords: functional connectivity, long short-term nectivity. Avoidant symptoms in early childhood and
memory, neuroimaging, neuropsychiatric disorders, neu- generalized anxiety disorder in later childhood were
roscience, post-traumatic stress disorder, recurrent neural related to impaired DMN connectivity. In combination,
network stress exposure, oxytocin-pathway genes, and stress-
related symptoms explained 24.6% of the variance in
Journal of neural engineering (2020), Vol. 17, No. 6 DMN connectivity, highlighting the significant effect
(33166947) (1 citation) of stress on the maturing brain. Conclusions: Findings
are the first to link the oxytocin system and maturation
of the DMN, a core system sustaining autobiographical
Cumulative Risk on Oxytocin-Pathway Genes memories, alteration of intrinsic and extrinsic attention,
Impairs Default Mode Network Connectivity in mentalization, and sense of self. Results suggest that
Trauma-Exposed Youth (2020) oxytocin may buffer the effects of chronic early stress
on the DMN, particularly theta rhythms that typify the
Zeev-Wolf, Maor; Levy, Jonathan; Ebstein, Richard P; developing brain.
Feldman, Ruth
Keywords: OXTR, anxiety disorders, genetics, longitudinal
Department of Education, Zlotowski Center for Neurosci- studies, magnetoencephalography, trauma exposure
ence, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel;
Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Frontiers in endocrinology (2020), Vol. 11 (32528417) (8
Aalto University, Espoo, Finland; Department of Psychology, citations)
National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Child
Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
Magnetoencephalography for Mild Traumatic Brain
ABSTRACT Background: Although the default mode Injury and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (2020)
network (DMN) is a core network essential for brain
functioning, little is known about its developmental Huang, Mingxiong; Lewine, Jeffrey David; Lee, Roland R
trajectory, particularly on factors associated with its
coherence into a functional network. In light of adult Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego

 ontents  Index 258
C