Stress reduction correlates with structural changes in the amygdala
Stress reduction correlates with structural changes in the amygdala
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DOI：
10.1093/scan/nsp034
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发表时间：
2010-03-01
影响因子：
4.2
通讯作者：
Lazar, Sara W.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Hoelzel, Britta K.;Carmody, James;Lazar, Sara W.
压力对健康有很大的不利影响，是许多疾病的风险因素。神经生物学研究表明，杏仁核是一种在应激反应中至关重要的大脑结构。虽然杏仁核功能亢进通常是在应激条件下观察到的，但关于灰质结构差异的横断面报告一直不太一致。我们进行了一项纵向的MRI研究，以调查在减压干预后感觉到的压力变化与杏仁核灰质密度变化之间的关系。有压力但其他方面健康的个体(N=26)参加了为期8周的基于正念的减压干预。干预前后采用感知应激量表(PSS)对患者的感知应激进行评分，并对其进行解剖磁共振成像。PSS变化被用作双侧杏仁核内灰质密度变化的预测回归变量。在干预后，参与者报告显著减少了感知到的压力。感觉压力的减少与右侧杏仁基底外侧灰质密度的减少呈正相关。以前的研究发现，灰质的改变是由于获得抽象信息、运动和语言技能所致，而这项研究表明，神经可塑性的改变与心理状态变量的改善有关。
Stress has significant adverse effects on health and is a risk factor for many illnesses. Neurobiological studies have implicated the amygdala as a brain structure crucial in stress responses. Whereas hyperactive amygdala function is often observed during stress conditions, cross-sectional reports of differences in gray matter structure have been less consistent. We conducted a longitudinal MRI study to investigate the relationship between changes in perceived stress with changes in amygdala gray matter density following a stress-reduction intervention. Stressed but otherwise healthy individuals (N = 26) participated in an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention. Perceived stress was rated on the perceived stress scale (PSS) and anatomical MR images were acquired pre- and post-intervention. PSS change was used as the predictive regressor for changes in gray matter density within the bilateral amygdalae. Following the intervention, participants reported significantly reduced perceived stress. Reductions in perceived stress correlated positively with decreases in right basolateral amygdala gray matter density. Whereas prior studies found gray matter modifications resulting from acquisition of abstract information, motor and language skills, this study demonstrates that neuroplastic changes are associated with improvements in a psychological state variable.