A neural signature for gastrointestinal symptoms in depression: insula-gastric connectivity predicts symptom severity
Our findings reveal a distinct neural signature for GI distress in depression, characterized by aberrant connectivity within an insula-somatosensory circuit. This circuit, which shows relative enhancement in symptomatic patients against a backdrop of globally reduced connectivity, may reflect a mechanism of somatosensory amplification. It represents a potential biomarker for patient stratification and a novel target for therapeutic intervention.
Authors
- Qi Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7280-7378)
- Jinying Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6063-9258)
- Tongjian Bai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2185-0042)
- Xiao‐Min Pan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5549-4464)
- Qiang Wei (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3750-3042)
- Qianqian Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7716-0481)
- Yue Yu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1398-243X)
- Ting Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8067-9994)
- Wenjia Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6230-4937)
- Zhiyong Gao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3511-277X)
- Kai Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2312-8109)
- Jin Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0974-5976)
Institutions
- University of Science and Technology of China (CN)
- Anhui Medical University (CN)
- PLA Electronic Engineering Institute (CN)
- First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University (CN)
- National Science Centre (PL)
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University (CN)
- Anhui Mental Health Center (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Psychiatry
- Published
- 2025-11-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1672148
- Primary Topic
- Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Anhui Medical University
- University of Science and Technology of China
- Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province
- National Key Research and Development Program of China