Research note: A resting-state, cerebello-amygdaloid intrinsically connected network

Abstract

Background: Previous ROI-based functional connectivity studies found functional coherence between cerebellum and cerebral amygdale, at rest. Moreover, some neurospychiatric symptoms were accompanied by abnormal activations of these two brain areas. Therefore, the aim of the study was to identify a putative, resting-state intrinsically connected cerebello-amygdaloid network. Methods: ICA-based analysis was performed on brain resting-state functional images of 15 volunteers. Results: The first ICA spatial component corresponded to a circuit including: dentate nuclei, lobules VI and VIII, the basolateral amygdala, the substantia nigra, the posterior insula, claustrum and the parietal opercule. Conclusion: A new intrinsically connected network linking cerebellum and amygdala is described, which could be in charge of sensorimotor, emotional and motivational integration of somesthesic stimuli before recruiting more specialized circuits such as ventral striatum or attentional and salience networks.