Prominent Nodal Role of Amygdala and Nucleus Accumbens and Altered Prefrontal Strength in Functional Connectivity in Pediatric Bipolar Disorder

Minjie Wu¹, Alexander Kmicikewycz¹, Shaolin Yang¹, Lisa Lu¹, ², Donatello Arienzo¹, Mani Pavuluri¹

Applying graph theory analyses to resting state brain functional data, the present study aims to characterize the system-level changes in brain organization at rest in PBD. Significant increased betweenness centrality in PBD is observed in left amygdala, nucleus accumbens, precuneus, and right temporal pole. PBD also showed significant decreased connectivity degree in left medial OFC, and increased connectivity degree in right DLPFC. The pattern of increased thoroughfare via subcortical nodes of amygdala and nucleus accumbens and altered connectivity strength of DLPFC and OFC offer strong support of how affective and reward circuits are potentially interlinked and impaired in PBD.