What question did this study set out to answer?

Investigate regional brain activation and neural network connectivity underlying anticipatory fear processing in early childhood as a function of anxiety symptoms.

August 19, 2026JCPP AdvancesOpen Access

Identifiable regional and neural network abnormalities in early childhood anxiety

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Authors

KTKhalil I. Thompson YZYiwen Zhang DSDenny Schaedig

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Overview

Neuroimaging study reveals altered regional activation and disrupted network connectivity during fear anticipation in young children, highlighting early neural markers of anxiety.

Key Points

Investigate regional brain activation and neural network connectivity underlying anticipatory fear processing in early childhood as a function of anxiety symptoms.
Assessed 159 high-risk children (mean age = 5.93 years, SD = 1.16; 54% female) using a free-viewing fMRI paradigm with an animated episode featuring anticipatory fear.
Collected parent ratings of child anxiety symptoms and analyzed fMRI time-series using general linear modeling (GLM) and independent components analysis (ICA).
GLM analyses demonstrated significant positive activation in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, middle temporal gyrus, and thalamus during negative scenes as anxiety symptoms increased.
ICA revealed reduced network connectivity between the anterior cingulate and raphe nuclei, as well as between the right temporoparietal junction, left superior parietal lobule, and lingual gyri, associated with higher anxiety symptoms.

Cite This Study

Thompson et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a85642503308d306e2d7c02 https://doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.70158

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August 19, 2026JCPP AdvancesOpen Access

Identifiable regional and neural network abnormalities in early childhood anxiety

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

KTKhalil I. Thompson YZYiwen Zhang DSDenny Schaedig

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Neuroimaging study reveals altered regional activation and disrupted network connectivity during fear anticipation in young children, highlighting early neural markers of anxiety.

Key Points

Investigate regional brain activation and neural network connectivity underlying anticipatory fear processing in early childhood as a function of anxiety symptoms.
Assessed 159 high-risk children (mean age = 5.93 years, SD = 1.16; 54% female) using a free-viewing fMRI paradigm with an animated episode featuring anticipatory fear.
Collected parent ratings of child anxiety symptoms and analyzed fMRI time-series using general linear modeling (GLM) and independent components analysis (ICA).
GLM analyses demonstrated significant positive activation in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, middle temporal gyrus, and thalamus during negative scenes as anxiety symptoms increased.
ICA revealed reduced network connectivity between the anterior cingulate and raphe nuclei, as well as between the right temporoparietal junction, left superior parietal lobule, and lingual gyri, associated with higher anxiety symptoms.

Cite This Study

Thompson et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a85642503308d306e2d7c02 https://doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.70158

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