Emotion regulation in self-injurious youth: A tale of two circuits

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Carmen Santana-Gonzalez - , University of Minnesota System (Author)
  • Janani Ranatunga - , University of Minnesota System (Author)
  • Giang Nguyen - , University of Minnesota System (Author)
  • Brianna Greiskalns - , University of Minnesota System (Author)
  • Natasha Das - , University of Minnesota System (Author)
  • Evan Lattimer - , University of Minnesota System (Author)
  • Matthew Maurice - , University of Minnesota System (Author)
  • Gina Yi - , University of Minnesota System (Author)
  • Anna Lena Zietlow - , Chair of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (Author)
  • Monika Eckstein - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Anna Zilverstand - , University of Minnesota System (Author)
  • Karina Quevedo - , University of Minnesota System (Author)

Abstract

Two emotion regulation (ER) networks, the amygdala and ventral striatum (VS) circuits underpin defensive and reward processes related to non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Youth who engaged in non-suicidal self-injury behavior (NSSIB) and healthy controls either watched images passively (passive condition) or increased their positive affect during positive/neutral images and decreased their negative affect during negative and self-harm images (regulate condition) in the scanner. NSSI youth showed higher amygdala to precuneus and inferior parietal lobe (IPL) connectivity while regulating emotions during self-harm images, a pattern which was associated with higher self-injury frequency. NSSI youth showed higher VS connectivity to the fusiform gyrus and parahippocampus while regulating emotions elicited by self-harm and positive images, which was in turn linked to higher self-harm frequency and relief after NSSI. Higher amygdala-precuneus and IPL connectivity in NSSI youth suggest greater self-identification with, or difficulty regulating negative affect elicited by, self-injury images. High VS-fusiform gyrus and parahippocampus connectivity during positive and self-harm images implies reward anomalies and/or greater effort to regulate positive affect. VS circuit's’ links to relief and NSSIB frequency suggest VS reward-based learning as biomarker of NSSIB endurance. We discovered ER mechanisms in adolescents with NSSIB and promising targets for effective NSSIB treatment.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number111944
JournalPsychiatry Research - Neuroimaging
Volume347
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 39787881
ORCID /0000-0002-7278-5711/work/184006414

Keywords

Keywords

  • Amygdala, Emotion regulation, Functional connectivity, Relief, Self-harm, Self-injury, Ventral striatum