Short-Term Restriction of Physical and Social Activities Effects on Brain Structure and Connectivity
Background: Prolonged confinement in enclosed environments has raised concerns about its effects on both physical and mental health. Although increased rates of depression or anxiety during COVID-19 lockdowns have been reported, the effects of short-term restrictions on social activities and physica...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/1/7 |
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| author | Yajuan Zhang Lianghu Guo Zhuoyang Gu Qing Yang Siyan Han Han Zhang |
| author_facet | Yajuan Zhang Lianghu Guo Zhuoyang Gu Qing Yang Siyan Han Han Zhang |
| author_sort | Yajuan Zhang |
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| description | Background: Prolonged confinement in enclosed environments has raised concerns about its effects on both physical and mental health. Although increased rates of depression or anxiety during COVID-19 lockdowns have been reported, the effects of short-term restrictions on social activities and physical on brain function and structure remain poorly known. Methods: This study explored longitudinal changes in brain gray matter volume (GMV) and functional connectivity (FC) immediately after and four months following a short-term lockdown in comparison to pre-lockdown conditions. MRI data were collected from 20 participants before the lockdown, from 29 participants (14 original, 15 new) two months post-lockdown, and from 27 out of the 29 participants four months post-lifting of the lockdown. Results: Results showed significant GMV reductions in the right gyrus rectus and cuneus post-lockdown, with further reductions observed four months after lifting the restrictions, affecting additional brain regions. Longitudinal FC trajectories revealed decreased connectivity between the default mode network (DMN) and sensorimotor/attention networks post-lockdown, and recovery after four months post-lifting of the lockdown. Conclusions: The observed plasticity in brain FC indicates substantial recovery potential with the potential long-term effect of structural changes. Our findings offer insights into the effects of isolation on the human brain, potentially informing rehabilitation mechanisms and interventions for individuals in similar conditions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6af4d1e57f4649d3b911ff1c58321608 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-6af4d1e57f4649d3b911ff1c583216082025-01-24T13:25:38ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252024-12-01151710.3390/brainsci15010007Short-Term Restriction of Physical and Social Activities Effects on Brain Structure and ConnectivityYajuan Zhang0Lianghu Guo1Zhuoyang Gu2Qing Yang3Siyan Han4Han Zhang5School of Biomedical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, ChinaSchool of Biomedical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, ChinaSchool of Biomedical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, ChinaSchool of Biomedical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, ChinaSchool of Biomedical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, ChinaSchool of Biomedical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, ChinaBackground: Prolonged confinement in enclosed environments has raised concerns about its effects on both physical and mental health. Although increased rates of depression or anxiety during COVID-19 lockdowns have been reported, the effects of short-term restrictions on social activities and physical on brain function and structure remain poorly known. Methods: This study explored longitudinal changes in brain gray matter volume (GMV) and functional connectivity (FC) immediately after and four months following a short-term lockdown in comparison to pre-lockdown conditions. MRI data were collected from 20 participants before the lockdown, from 29 participants (14 original, 15 new) two months post-lockdown, and from 27 out of the 29 participants four months post-lifting of the lockdown. Results: Results showed significant GMV reductions in the right gyrus rectus and cuneus post-lockdown, with further reductions observed four months after lifting the restrictions, affecting additional brain regions. Longitudinal FC trajectories revealed decreased connectivity between the default mode network (DMN) and sensorimotor/attention networks post-lockdown, and recovery after four months post-lifting of the lockdown. Conclusions: The observed plasticity in brain FC indicates substantial recovery potential with the potential long-term effect of structural changes. Our findings offer insights into the effects of isolation on the human brain, potentially informing rehabilitation mechanisms and interventions for individuals in similar conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/1/7lockdown environmentslongitudinal studyresting-state fMRIstructural MRIfunctional connectivity |
| spellingShingle | Yajuan Zhang Lianghu Guo Zhuoyang Gu Qing Yang Siyan Han Han Zhang Short-Term Restriction of Physical and Social Activities Effects on Brain Structure and Connectivity Brain Sciences lockdown environments longitudinal study resting-state fMRI structural MRI functional connectivity |
| title | Short-Term Restriction of Physical and Social Activities Effects on Brain Structure and Connectivity |
| title_full | Short-Term Restriction of Physical and Social Activities Effects on Brain Structure and Connectivity |
| title_fullStr | Short-Term Restriction of Physical and Social Activities Effects on Brain Structure and Connectivity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Short-Term Restriction of Physical and Social Activities Effects on Brain Structure and Connectivity |
| title_short | Short-Term Restriction of Physical and Social Activities Effects on Brain Structure and Connectivity |
| title_sort | short term restriction of physical and social activities effects on brain structure and connectivity |
| topic | lockdown environments longitudinal study resting-state fMRI structural MRI functional connectivity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/1/7 |
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