Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study of brain function in insomnia comorbid with anxiety
MENG Yumeng
LIU Nian
ZHANG Yaochi
ZHANG Yuyu
WANG Tingrui
MA Siheng
SU Rui
LIU Xiaohui
CAI Min
Abstract：Objective To investigate the characteristics of spontaneous neural activity in patients with insomnia and anxiety using the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation(ALFF)metric based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI),and to compare the differences in brain function between these patients and healthy individuals,thereby gaining deeper insights into the neuroimaging mechanisms of sleep disorders.Methods Forty-two patients with insomnia and anxiety were recruited from the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine Xijing Hospital,Air Force Medical University from July 2023 to July 2024 as the patient group.Their general information,relevant scale scores,and rs-fMRI data were collected.Twenty-eight healthy subjects were included as the control group,and their rs-fMRI data were acquired.Paired samples t-tests were used to compare ALFF values in brain regions between the two groups,and Pearson correlation analysis was employed to explore the relationships between ALFF values in discrepant brain regions and scores on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)and Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA).Results Compared to the control group,the patient group showed significantly increased ALFF values in the right cerebellum(P＜0.01)and significantly decreased ALFF values in the left lentiform nucleus,left superior temporal gyrus,and bilateral temporal poles(P＜0.05).Correlation analysis revealed that ALFF values in the left temporal pole and left superior temporal gyrus were negatively correlated with PSQI scores(r=-0.378,P=0.025;r=-0.375,P=0.027),and ALFF values in the left temporal pole were also negatively correlated with HAMA scores(r=-0.345,P=0.043).Conclusion Patients with insomnia and anxiety exhibit abnormal functional activities in multiple brain regions.Altered ALFF values in specific brain areas may reflect potential mechanisms of impaired neural function,providing new perspectives for understanding the neuroimaging basis of sleep disorders.
Keywords：insomniaanxietyfunctional magnetic resonance imagingbrain mappingsleep disorderscerebellumbasal gangliatemporal lobe
Publication Date：2026-02-28
Online Publishing Date：2026-08-26(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：7( 249-255 )