Covariation of preadult environmental exposures, adult brain imaging phenotypes, and adult personality traits

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Kaizhong Xue - , Tianjin Medical University (Author)
  • Bo Gao - , Guizhou Medical University, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital (Author)
  • Feng Chen - , Hainan Medical University (Author)
  • Meiyun Wang - , Henan Provincial People's Hospital (Author)
  • Jingliang Cheng - , Zhengzhou University (Author)
  • Bing Zhang - , Nanjing University (Author)
  • Wenzhen Zhu - , Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Author)
  • Shijun Qiu - , Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Author)
  • Zuojun Geng - , Hebei Medical University (Author)
  • Xiaochu Zhang - , University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) (Author)
  • Guangbin Cui - , Fourth Military Medical University (Author)
  • Yongqiang Yu - , Anhui Medical University (Author)
  • Quan Zhang - , General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces (Author)
  • Weihua Liao - , Central South University (Author)
  • Hui Zhang - , Shanxi Medical University (Author)
  • Xiaojun Xu - , Zhejiang University (Author)
  • Tong Han - , Tianjin Huanhu Hospital (Author)
  • Wen Qin - , Tianjin Medical University (Author)
  • Feng Liu - , Tianjin Medical University (Author)
  • Meng Liang - , Tianjin Medical University (Author)
  • Lining Guo - , Tianjin Medical University (Author)
  • Qiang Xu - , Tianjin Medical University (Author)
  • Jiayuan Xu - , Tianjin Medical University (Author)
  • Jilian Fu - , Tianjin Medical University (Author)
  • Peng Zhang - , Tianjin Medical University (Author)
  • Wei Li - , Tianjin Medical University (Author)
  • Dapeng Shi - , Henan Provincial People's Hospital (Author)
  • Caihong Wang - , Zhengzhou University (Author)
  • Su Lui - , Sichuan University (Author)
  • Zhihan Yan - , Wenzhou Medical University (Author)
  • Jing Zhang - , Lanzhou University, CAS - Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics (Author)
  • Jiance Li - , Wenzhou Medical University (Author)
  • Dawei Wang - , Shandong University (Author)
  • Junfang Xian - , Capital Medical University (CMU) (Author)
  • Kai Xu - , Xuzhou Medical University (Author)
  • Xi Nian Zuo - , Beijing Normal University, CAS - Institute of Psychology (Author)
  • Longjiang Zhang - , Nanjing University (Author)
  • Zhaoxiang Ye - , Tianjin Medical University (Author)
  • Tobias Banaschewski - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Gareth J. Barker - , King's College London (KCL) (Author)
  • Arun L.W. Bokde - , Trinity College Dublin (Author)
  • Sylvane Desrivières - , King's College London (KCL) (Author)
  • Herta Flor - , Heidelberg University , University of Mannheim (Author)
  • Antoine Grigis - , Université Paris-Saclay (Author)
  • Hugh Garavan - , University of Vermont (Author)
  • Penny Gowland - , University of Nottingham (Author)
  • Andreas Heinz - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Rüdiger Brühl - , Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (Author)
  • Juliane H. Fröhner - , Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Author)
  • Michael N. Smolka - , Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Author)

Abstract

Exposure to preadult environmental exposures may have long-lasting effects on mental health by affecting the maturation of the brain and personality, two traits that interact throughout the developmental process. However, environment-brain-personality covariation patterns and their mediation relationships remain unclear. In 4297 healthy participants (aged 18–30 years), we combined sparse multiple canonical correlation analysis with independent component analysis to identify the three-way covariation patterns of 59 preadult environmental exposures, 760 adult brain imaging phenotypes, and five personality traits, and found two robust environment-brain-personality covariation models with sex specificity. One model linked greater stress and less support to weaker functional connectivity and activity in the default mode network, stronger activity in subcortical nuclei, greater thickness and volume in the occipital, parietal and temporal cortices, and lower agreeableness, consciousness and extraversion as well as higher neuroticism. The other model linked higher urbanicity and better socioeconomic status to stronger functional connectivity and activity in the sensorimotor network, smaller volume and surface area and weaker functional connectivity and activity in the medial prefrontal cortex, lower white matter integrity, and higher openness to experience. We also conducted mediation analyses to explore the potential bidirectional mediation relationships between adult brain imaging phenotypes and personality traits with the influence of preadult environmental exposures and found both environment-brain-personality and environment-personality-brain pathways. We finally performed moderated mediation analyses to test the potential interactions between macro- and microenvironmental exposures and found that one category of exposure moderated the mediation pathways of another category of exposure. These results improve our understanding of the effects of preadult environmental exposures on the adult brain and personality traits and may facilitate the design of targeted interventions to improve mental health by reducing the impact of adverse environmental exposures.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4853-4866
Number of pages14
JournalMolecular psychiatry
Volume28
Issue number11
Publication statusPublished - 22 Nov 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Mendeley 3eeea103-5284-3afd-bb93-93cb94a1c6b6
ORCID /0000-0001-5398-5569/work/150329525
ORCID /0000-0002-8493-6396/work/150330250