Amygdala Resting-State Functional Connectivity Alterations in Patients with Chronic Insomnia Disorder: Correlation with EEG Beta Power During Sleep

• Published in: Sleep (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2023-08
• Main Authors: Kweon, Woojin, Lee, Kyung Hwa, Choi, Sang Ho, Shin, Jiyoon, Seo, Mincheol, Jeon, Jeong Eun, Lee, Ha Young, Park, Chowon, Kim, Sun-Young, Kim, Jong Won, Chang, Jun Hyuk, Lee, Yu Jin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1550-9109

This study investigated alterations in resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) and hyperarousal biomarkers in patients with chronic insomnia disorder (CID), compared with good sleepers (GS). We also examined the relationships between altered RSFC and hyperarousal biomarkers. Fifty patients with CID and fifty-two GS completed self-reporting questionnaires, and then underwent polysomnography and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. We analyzed RSFC in the amygdala (AMG) and anterior insula (aINS), which are core regions of the salience network that are likely to be involved in hyperarousal. We also analyzed electroencephalography (EEG) relative beta power and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters (e.g., low and high frequency) during sleep. We then tested between-group differences in the RSFC and hyperarousal biomarkers; we examined correlations of RSFC with EEG beta power and HRV. Compared with GS, patients with CID showed more negative RSFC between the right AMG and left supramarginal gyrus (SMG), but less positive RSFC between the left aINS and bilateral lateral prefrontal cortex. The AMG-SMG RSFC was negatively correlated with EEG beta power in central regions (C3: r = -0.336, P = 0.012; C4: r = -0.314, P = 0.024). Decreased RSFC between the AMG and SMG in patients with insomnia may reflect difficulty in cortical top-down regulation of the AMG, indicating daytime hyperarousal. Individuals who experience hyperarousal during the daytime may also exhibit cortical hyperarousal during sleep, as indicated by increased EEG beta power.