Journal
NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
Volume 35, Issue 2, Pages 197-206Publisher
AMER PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOC
DOI: 10.1037/neu0000684
Keywords
Anxiety; Mathematics; Diffusion MRI; White matter; Sex differences
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The study used DMRI connectometry to investigate the correlation between mathematics anxiety and white matter microstructural connectivity, suggesting that structures related to language processing and emotion systems play a significant role in mathematics anxiety.
Background: Mathematics Anxiety (MA) is a feeling of stress, tension, and fear in situations engaging with math-related tasks. Herein, we utilized Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DMRI) connectometry approach to tracking white matter (WM) fibers with a significant correlation with the severity of MA. Methods: A total of 77 healthy adult participants (50 males, mean age +/- SD = 26.00 +/- 3.54) were included from the Leipzig Study for Mind-Body-Emotion Interactions (LEMON) database. Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale (AMAS) questionnaire was used for assessing the participant's feelings when facing a math-related activity. DMRI data were prepared and analyzed with the connectometry approach. Multiple regression models were then carried out to examine the correlation of WM microstructural connectivity with AMAS score. Results: DMRI connectometry showed a significant association between AMAS score and increased microstructural connectivity in left arcuate fasciculus (AF), the body of corpus callosum (CC), right cingulum, and left inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF) in male participants with moderate effect size false discovery rate (FDR = 0.040). Furthermore, DMRI connectometry in females identified a positive correlation between AMAS score and microstructural connectivity in the genu of CC, right ILF, and bilateral fornices with small-to-moderate effect size (FDR = 0.012) and a negative correlation between AMAS score and microstructural connectivity in the bilateral cingulum with small-to-moderate effect size (FDR = 0.032) Conclusion: Our findings support that structures with functional relation to language processing areas (e.g., AF) or limbic system (cingulum, CC, fornix, and ILF) play a significant role in MA.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available