Key result
Lower happiness is linked to greater resting-state DMN connectivity, correlating with increased rumination.
Why the study?
Unhappiness may be associated with increased default mode network functional connectivity during rest, which is implicated in rumination.
Cross-Sectional (n=148)
Increased resting-state functional connectivity in the default mode network is associated with lower happiness and higher rumination in healthy individuals.
Unhappiness was associated with increased resting DMN connectivity; leaves open whether this drives rumination or has clinical relevance.
Happiness refers to people's cognitive and affective evaluation of their life. Why are some people happier than others? One reason might be that unhappy people are prone to ruminate more than happy people. The default mode network (DMN) is normally active during rest and is implicated in rumination. We hypothesized that unhappiness may be associated with increased default-mode functional connectivity during rest, including the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and inferior parietal lobule (IPL). The hyperconnectivity of these areas may be associated with higher levels of rumination. One hundred forty-eight healthy participants underwent a resting-state fMRI scan. A group-independent component analysis identified the DMNs. Results indicated increased functional connectivity in the DMN was associated with lower levels of happiness. Specifically, relative to happy people, unhappy people exhibited greater functional connectivity in the anterior medial cortex (bilateral MPFC), posterior medial cortex regions (bilateral PCC) and posterior parietal cortex (left IPL). Moreover, the increased functional connectivity of the MPFC, PCC and IPL, correlated positively with the inclination to ruminate. These results highlight the important role of the DMN in the neural correlates of happiness, and suggest that rumination may play an important role in people's perceived happiness.
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Luo et al. (2015) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy (n=148). Lower levels of happiness vs. Higher levels of happiness was evaluated on Functional connectivity in the default mode network (DMN). Lower levels of happiness were associated with greater resting-state functional connectivity in the default mode network, which correlated positively with the inclination to ruminate.
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