Microstructural White Matter Alterations in Mathematics Anxiety; a Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Background and Aim: Mathematics Anxiety (MA) is a feeling of stress, tension, and fear in situations engaging with math-related tasks. MA is considered as a feeling of stress, tension, worry, and fear in situations engaging with numerical problem solving or math-related tasks with a prevalence of ۶-۷% among school-aged children and worse outcomes in females. It is connected with poor involvement in math-related tasks, resulting in reduced mathematical skills and, accordingly, lower academic performance. Methods: A total of ۷۷ healthy adult participants (۵۰ (۶۴.۹%) male, mean age_x۰۰۰۰__x۰۰۰۰_SD=۲۶.۰۰_x۰۰۰۰__x۰۰۰۰_۳.۵۴), who were assessed for MA from the Leipzig Study for Mind-Body-Emotion Interactions (LEMON) database (n=۲۲۷), were enrolled in the current study. Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale (AMAS) questionnaire was used for assessing the participant's feelings when facing a math-related activity. Images were prepared and analyzed for the diffusion connectometry metric (spin distribution function). Directions of fibers were extracted from a common diffusion atlas. The calculated densities of diffusing spins sampled from each of these tracts voxels were used to construct the local connectome. Multiple regression models were then carried out aimed to examine the correlation of local connectomes with AMAS components. Results: Given its relatively high prevalence and also detrimental consequences on both academic and career performance, we utilized dMRI connectometry to track WM trajectories with a significant difference between individuals with or without MA aiming to address the neurobiology and microstructural organization of anxiety conditions, especially the mathematical situations. Conclusion: We observed a significant direct correlation between AMAS score and connectivity in right cerebellum, right cingulum, inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF), and corpus callosum (CC), as well as an inverse correlation with connectivity in left cerebellum, middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP), and CC in both genders. Findings of current survey point that structures with functional relation to language processing areas (e.g., arcuate fasciculus, cerebellum, and MCP) or limbic system (cingulum bundle, CC, fornix, and ILF) play a significant role in MA.

کلیدواژه ها:

Anxiety ، Mathematics ، Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging