Regional gray matter volume associated with exercise dependence: A voxel‐based morphometry study

Abstract

Although regular physical exercise has multiple positive benefits for the general population, excessive exercise may lead to exercise dependence (EXD), which is harmful to one's physical and mental health. Increasing evidence suggests that stress is a potential risk factor for the onset and development of EXD. However, little is known about the neural substrates of EXD and the underlying neuropsychological mechanism by which stress affects EXD. Herein, we investigate these issues in 86 individuals who exercise regularly by estimating their cortical gray matter volume (GMV) utilizing a voxel-based morphometry method based on structural magnetic resonance imaging. Whole-brain correlation analyses and prediction analyses showed negative relationships between EXD and GMV of the right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), left subgenual cingulate gyrus (sgCG), and left inferior parietal lobe (IPL). Furthermore, mediation analyses found that the GMV of the right OFC was an important mediator between stress and EXD. Importantly, these results remained significant even when adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, family socioeconomic status, general intelligence and total intracranial volume, as well as depression and anxiety. Collectively, the results of the present study provide crucial evidence of the neuroanatomical basis of EXD and reveal a potential neuropsychological pathway in predicting EXD in which GMV mediates the relationship between stress and EXD.

COVID‐19 vicarious traumatization links functional connectome to general distress

“…Subsequently, all participants were contacted for COVID-related behavioral measurements during the initial outbreak and peak from February to April 2020 (T2) and for follow-up mental health evaluations from March to April 2021 (T3, post-peak period of the pandemic), both via an online survey. For the current experimental design, our primary goal was to recruit about 100 participants, given that at least 84 participants would be needed to detect medium-sized effects for conducting correlation analyses (r = 0.3, α = 0.05, 1-β = 0.80) based on standard power analysis ( Faul et al, 2007 ; Kong et al, 2020 ; Zhang et al, 2021 ). Finally, a total of 115 participants responded and completed all the measures of T2 and T3.…”

Relevance of the anterior cingulate cortex volume and personality in motivated physical activity behaviors

“…Thus, all the studies have reported positive correlations between volume or perfusion measures of reward-related structures and physical condition in samples that include sedentary and regular exercisers. However, a recent study showed a negative correlation between exercise addiction measures and the volume of the OFC, suggesting that extensive and vigorous PA may change the global pattern of results 56 .…”

Exercise addiction: A narrative overview of research issues

“…Additionally, a recent study investigated the effects of EA on the brain’s structure in 86 individuals who exercise regularly by estimating their cortical gray matter volume (GMV) in structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (Zhang et al. 2021 ). Whole-brain analyses revealed a negative correlation between EA and GMV.…”

“…Furthermore, the GMV of the right OFC was a mediator between stress and EA (Zhang et al. 2021 ). These few studies suggest that some correlates exist between neuropsychophysiological measures and exercise addiction, but significantly more focussed research is needed in this field of study.…”