Variability in Brain Structure and Function Reflects Lack of Peer Support

Matthias Schurz; Lucina Q Uddin; Philipp Kanske; Claus Lamm; Jérôme Sallet; Boris C Bernhardt; Rogier B Mars; Danilo Bzdok

doi:10.1093/cercor/bhab109

journal article Open Access May 13, 2021

Variability in Brain Structure and Function Reflects Lack of Peer Support

Matthias Schurz

Lucina Q Uddin Philipp Kanske

Claus Lamm

Jérôme Sallet

Boris C Bernhardt

Rogier B Mars Danilo Bzdok

Cerebral Cortex Vol. 31 No. 10 pp. 4612-4627 · Oxford University Press (OUP)

View at Publisher Save 10.1093/cercor/bhab109

Abstract

Abstract
Humans are a highly social species. Complex interactions for mutual support range from helping neighbors to building social welfare institutions. During times of distress or crisis, sharing life experiences within one’s social circle is critical for well-being. By translating pattern-learning algorithms to the UK Biobank imaging-genetics cohort (n = ~40 000 participants), we have delineated manifestations of regular social support in multimodal whole-brain measurements. In structural brain variation, we identified characteristic volumetric signatures in the salience and limbic networks for high- versus low-social support individuals. In patterns derived from functional coupling, we also located interindividual differences in social support in action–perception circuits related to binding sensory cues and initiating behavioral responses. In line with our demographic profiling analysis, the uncovered neural substrates have potential implications for loneliness, substance misuse, and resilience to stress.

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Details

Published: May 13, 2021
Vol/Issue: 31(10)
Pages: 4612-4627
License: View

Authors

M

Matthias Schurz

Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SR, UK; Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

L

Lucina Q Uddin

Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33124, USA; Neuroscience Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, USA

P

Philipp Kanske

Clinical Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01187 Dresden, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 04103 Leipzig, Germany

C

Claus Lamm

Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria

J

Jérôme Sallet

Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SR, UK; University of Lyon, Univ Lyon 1, INSERM, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute U1208, 69500 Bron, France

B

Boris C Bernhardt

McConnell Brain Imaging Centre (BIC), Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada

R

Rogier B Mars

Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK

D

Danilo Bzdok

McConnell Brain Imaging Centre (BIC), Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, School of Computer Science, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada; Mila-Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, Montreal, Quebec H2S 3H1, Canada

Funding

Wellcome Trust Award: 203139/Z/16/Z

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Austrian Science Fund Award: P 32686

Canadian Institutes of Health Research Award: FDN-154298

National Institute of Mental Health Award: R01MH107549

Government of Canada

Google

Vienna Science and Technology Fund Award: CS11-016

SickKids Foundation Award: NI17-039

National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada

German Research Foundation Award: CRC940/C07

University of Miami

McDonnell Center for Systems Neuroscience at Washington University

CIFAR Artificial Intelligence Chairs program

Healthy Brains Healthy Lives initiative

Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO Award: 452-13-015

Azrieli Center for Autism Research of the Montreal Neurological Institute

IDEXLYON IMPULSION 2020 Grant Award: IDEX/IMP/2020/14

Wellcome Trust Henry Dale Fellowship Award: 105651/Z/14/Z

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship Award: MSCA-IF 844734

Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship Award: FWF-J4009-B27

Montreal Neurological Institute

Canada Brain Research Fund

Cite This Article

Matthias Schurz, Lucina Q Uddin, Philipp Kanske, et al. (2021). Variability in Brain Structure and Function Reflects Lack of Peer Support. Cerebral Cortex, 31(10), 4612-4627. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhab109

Variability in Brain Structure and Function Reflects Lack of Peer Support

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