Author
Listed:
- Po-Han Kung
(University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne)
- Matthew D. Greaves
(University of Melbourne
Monash University)
- Eva Guerrero-Hreins
(University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne)
- Ben J. Harrison
(University of Melbourne)
- Christopher G. Davey
(University of Melbourne)
- Kim L. Felmingham
(University of Melbourne)
- Holly Carey
(University of Melbourne)
- Priya Sumithran
(Monash University
Alfred Health)
- Robyn M. Brown
(University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne)
- Bradford A. Moffat
(University of Melbourne)
- Rebecca K. Glarin
(University of Melbourne)
- Alec J. Jamieson
(University of Melbourne)
- Trevor Steward
(University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne)
Abstract
Self-related cognitions are integral to personal identity and psychological wellbeing. Persistent engagement with negative self-cognitions can precipitate mental ill health; whereas the ability to restructure them is protective. Here, we leverage ultra-high field 7T fMRI and dynamic causal modelling to characterise a negative self-cognition network centred on the habenula – a small midbrain region linked to the encoding of punishment and negative outcomes. We model habenula effective connectivity in a discovery sample of healthy young adults (n = 45) and in a replication cohort (n = 56) using a cognitive restructuring task during which participants repeated or restructured negative self-cognitions. The restructuring of negative self-cognitions elicits an excitatory effect from the habenula to the posterior orbitofrontal cortex that is reliably observed across both samples. Furthermore, we identify an excitatory effect of the habenula on the posterior cingulate cortex during both the repeating and restructuring of self-cognitions. Our study provides evidence demonstrating the habenula’s contribution to processing self-cognitions. These findings yield unique insights into habenula’s function beyond processing external reward/punishment to include abstract internal experiences.
Suggested Citation
Po-Han Kung & Matthew D. Greaves & Eva Guerrero-Hreins & Ben J. Harrison & Christopher G. Davey & Kim L. Felmingham & Holly Carey & Priya Sumithran & Robyn M. Brown & Bradford A. Moffat & Rebecca K. G, 2025.
"Habenula contributions to negative self-cognitions,"
Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.
Handle:
RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59611-7
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59611-7
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