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Threat-related amygdala activity is associated with peripheral CRP concentrations in men but not women.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Swartz, JR; Prather, AA; Hariri, AR
Published in: Psychoneuroendocrinology
April 2017

Increased levels of peripheral inflammatory markers, including C-Reactive Protein (CRP), are associated with increased risk for depression, anxiety, and suicidality. The brain mechanisms that may underlie the association between peripheral inflammation and internalizing problems remain to be determined. The present study examines associations between peripheral CRP concentrations and threat-related amygdala activity, a neural biomarker of depression and anxiety risk, in a sample of 172 young adult undergraduate students. Participants underwent functional MRI scanning while performing an emotional face matching task to obtain a measure of threat-related amygdala activity to angry and fearful faces; CRP concentrations were assayed from dried blood spots. Results indicated a significant interaction between CRP and sex: in men, but not women, higher CRP was associated with higher threat-related amygdala activity. These results add to the literature finding associations between systemic levels of inflammation and brain function and suggest that threat-related amygdala activity may serve as a potential pathway through which heightened chronic inflammation may increase risk for mood and anxiety problems.

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Published In

Psychoneuroendocrinology

DOI

EISSN

1873-3360

ISSN

0306-4530

Publication Date

April 2017

Volume

78

Start / End Page

93 / 96

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Sex Factors
  • Psychiatry
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Fear
  • Facial Expression
  • C-Reactive Protein
 

Citation

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Swartz, J. R., Prather, A. A., & Hariri, A. R. (2017). Threat-related amygdala activity is associated with peripheral CRP concentrations in men but not women. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 78, 93–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.01.024
Swartz, Johnna R., Aric A. Prather, and Ahmad R. Hariri. “Threat-related amygdala activity is associated with peripheral CRP concentrations in men but not women.Psychoneuroendocrinology 78 (April 2017): 93–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.01.024.
Swartz JR, Prather AA, Hariri AR. Threat-related amygdala activity is associated with peripheral CRP concentrations in men but not women. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2017 Apr;78:93–6.
Swartz, Johnna R., et al. “Threat-related amygdala activity is associated with peripheral CRP concentrations in men but not women.Psychoneuroendocrinology, vol. 78, Apr. 2017, pp. 93–96. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.01.024.
Swartz JR, Prather AA, Hariri AR. Threat-related amygdala activity is associated with peripheral CRP concentrations in men but not women. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2017 Apr;78:93–96.
Journal cover image

Published In

Psychoneuroendocrinology

DOI

EISSN

1873-3360

ISSN

0306-4530

Publication Date

April 2017

Volume

78

Start / End Page

93 / 96

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Sex Factors
  • Psychiatry
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Fear
  • Facial Expression
  • C-Reactive Protein