Explaining Variability
Page Overview:
In the following sections we will examine the extent to which individualized network-level activation during emotion processing is associated with stress and psychopathology both between individuals (ie. individual differences) and within individuals (ie. within-person fluctuations).
Sections:
Section 1. Is activity during emotion processing associated with stressful life events?
Section 2. Is activity during emotion processing associated with depression symptoms?
Section 3. Is activity during emotion processing associated with anxiety symptoms?
Section 1. Associations with Stressful Life Events
Stressful Life Events
Is activity during emotion processing associated with stressful life events?
Associations of Stressful Life Events with Neural Activation
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Amygdala. There was no significant association of stressful life events between-subjects with ‘emotion processing’ activity in the amygdala (b = -0.056, SE = 0.074, p = 0.455). Additionally, there was no significant associations with stressful life events within-subject (b = 0.005, SE = 0.017, p = 0.78).
Left and Right Fusiform. There was no significant association of stressful life events between-subjects with ‘emotion processing’ activity in the right or left fusiform (right fusiform: b = 0.22 , SE = 0.43 , p = 0.62, left fusiform: b = 0.078, SE = 0.26, p = 0.76). Additionally, there were no significant within-subject stressful life events associations with ‘emotion processing’ activity in the right or left fusiform (right fusiform: b = -0.036, SE = 0.045, p = 0.42, Left Fusiform: b = 0.044, SE = 0.040, p = 0.28).
Visual-Central Network (VIS-C). There was no significant association of stressful life events between-subject with ‘emotion processing’ activity in the visual-central network (VIS-C) (b = -0.54, SE = 0.27, p = 0.060). Additionally, there was no significant association with stressful life events within-subject (VIS-C: b = -0.084, SE = 0.060, p = 0.16).
Dorsal Attention Network B (dATN-B). There was no significant association of stressful life events between-subject with ‘emotion processing’ activity in dorsal attention network B (dATN-B) (b = 0.047, SE = 0.13, p = 0.72). Additionally, there was no significant association with stressful life events within-subject (b = -0.024, SE = 0.035, p = 0.488).
Section 2. Associations with Depression Symptoms
Is activity during emotion processing associated with depression symptoms?
Depression Symptoms
Associations of Depression Symptoms with Neural Activation
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Amygdala. There was no significant association of depression symptoms between-subjects with ‘emotion processing’ activity in the amygdala (b = -0.016, SE = 0.013, p = 0.22). Additionally, there were no significant association with depression symptoms within-subject (b = 0.015, SE = 0.012, p = 0.21).
Left and Right Fusiform. There was no significant association of between-subject depression symptoms with ‘emotion processing’ activity in the left or right fusiform (left fusiform: b = -0.013, SE = 0.043, p = 0.77; right fusiform: b = 0.045 , SE = 0.078 , p = 0.57). Additionally, there were no significant within-subject depression symptoms associations with ‘emotion processing’ activity within the left or right fusiform (left fusiform: b = -0.010, SE = 0.031, p = 0.757; right fusiform: b = 0.010, SE = 0.030, p = 0.73).
Visual-Central Network (VIS-C). There was no significant association of between-subject depression symptoms with ‘emotion processing’ activity in the visual-central network (VIS-C) (b = -0.048, SE = 0.053, p = 0.37). Additionally, there was no significant association with depression symptoms within-subject (VIS-C: b = -0.005, SE = 0.051, p = 0.92).
Dorsal Attention Network B (dATN-B). There was no significant association of between-subject depression symptoms with ‘emotion processing’ activity in dorsal attention network B (dATN-B) (b = 0.002, SE = 0.024, p = 0.94). Additionally, there was no significant association with depression symptoms within-subject (b = 0.032, SE = 0.023, p = 0.16).
Section 3. Associations with Anxiety Symptoms
Is activity during emotion processing associated with anxiety symptoms?
Anxiety Symptoms
Associations of Anxiety Symptoms with Neural Activation
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Amygdala. There was no significant association of between-subject anxiety symptoms with ‘emotion processing’ activity in the amygdala (b = -0.028, SE = 0.017, p = 0.12). Additionally, there were no significant association with anxiety symptoms within-subject (b = 0.019, SE = 0.012, p = 0.12).
Left and Right Fusiform. There was no significant association of between-subject anxiety symptoms with ‘emotion processing’ activity in the left or right fusiform (left fusiform: b = 0.004, SE = 0.061, p = 0.94, right fusiform: b = 0.038 , SE = 0.102 , p = 0.71). Additionally, there were no significant within-subject anxiety symptoms associations with ‘emotion processing’ activity (left fusiform: b = -0.012, SE = 0.030, p = 0.70; right fusiform: b = -0.003, SE = 0.033, p = 0.93).
Visual-Central Network (VIS-C). There was no significant association of between-subject anxiety symptoms with ‘emotion processing’ activity in the visual-central network (VIS-C) (b = -0.050, SE = 0.068, p = 0.47). Additionally, there was no significant association with anxiety symptoms within-subject (VIS-C: b = -0.009, SE = 0.045, p = 0.84).
Dorsal Attention Network B (dATN-B). There was no significant association of between-subject anxiety symptoms with ‘emotion processing’ activity in dorsal attention network B (dATN-B) (b = 0.005, SE = 0.030, p = 0.86). Additionally, there was no significant association with anxiety symptoms within-subject (b = -0.024, SE = 0.035, p = 0.488).
Page in Review:
In sum, I did not observe any significant associations of stressful life events, depression symptoms or anxiety symptoms with ‘emotion processing’ activity within the the amygdala, the fusiform, visual-central network (VIS-C) or dorsal attention network B (dATN-B). This was true both in terms of between-subject associations, as well as within-subject associations.