A voxel-based analysis of diffusion tensor imaging in harm avoidance personality / 中华神经医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the correlation between harm avoidance(HA) personality and fractional anisotropy (FA) with voxel-based analysis (VBA) of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI),and to explore the microstructure of white matter of personality.Methods A total of 333 healthy right handed volunteers,recruited from November 2010 to April 2011,completed the Chinese version of three-dimensional personality questionnaire (TPQ) and Beck depression inventory (BDI),and after that,3D MRI and DTI scan were performed.All preprocessed DTI data were analyzed with SPM8 software in partial correlation analysis by using age and depression scores as controlled variables.The correlation between HA and FA was investigated (a voxel significance thresholdP＜0.001 and a cluster extent threshold of 30 voxels).Results HA was positively correlated with FA of the midbrain,pons,left parahippocampal gyrus,inferior temporal gyrus,middle temporal gyrus,right globus pallidus and bilateral superior parietal lobule,and was negatively correlated with FA of the leg putamen,thalamus and bilateral precuneus.Conclusion FA of the special brain areas is associated with harm avoidance personality dimension.