Faculty of Medicine.
Neuropsychology. 2021 Feb;35(2):197-206. doi: 10.1037/neu0000684.
Mathematics Anxiety (MA) is a feeling of stress, tension, and fear in situations engaging with math-related tasks. Herein, we utilized Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DMRI) connectometry approach to tracking white matter (WM) fibers with a significant correlation with the severity of MA.
A total of 77 healthy adult participants (50 males, mean age ± SD = 26.00 ± 3.54) were included from the Leipzig Study for Mind-Body-Emotion Interactions (LEMON) database. Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale (AMAS) questionnaire was used for assessing the participant's feelings when facing a math-related activity. DMRI data were prepared and analyzed with the connectometry approach. Multiple regression models were then carried out to examine the correlation of WM microstructural connectivity with AMAS score.
DMRI connectometry showed a significant association between AMAS score and increased microstructural connectivity in left arcuate fasciculus (AF), the body of corpus callosum (CC), right cingulum, and left inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF) in male participants with moderate effect size false discovery rate (FDR = 0.040). Furthermore, DMRI connectometry in females identified a positive correlation between AMAS score and microstructural connectivity in the genu of CC, right ILF, and bilateral fornices with small-to-moderate effect size (FDR = 0.012) and a negative correlation between AMAS score and microstructural connectivity in the bilateral cingulum with small-to-moderate effect size (FDR = 0.032) Conclusion: Our findings support that structures with functional relation to language processing areas (e.g., AF) or limbic system (cingulum, CC, fornix, and ILF) play a significant role in MA. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
数学焦虑（MA）是在涉及数学相关任务的情况下感到压力、紧张和恐惧的一种感觉。在此，我们利用扩散磁共振成像（DMRI）连接测量方法来追踪与 MA 严重程度有显著相关性的白质（WM）纤维。
从莱比锡身心情绪互动研究（LEMON）数据库中纳入了 77 名健康成年参与者（50 名男性，平均年龄 ± 标准差=26.00 ± 3.54）。采用简短数学焦虑量表（AMAS）问卷评估参与者在面对数学相关活动时的感受。使用连接测量方法准备和分析 DMRI 数据。然后进行多元回归模型，以检验 WM 微观结构连通性与 AMAS 评分的相关性。
DMRI 连接测量显示，男性参与者的 AMAS 评分与左侧弓状束（AF）、胼胝体体部（CC）、右侧扣带束和左侧下纵束（ILF）的微观结构连通性增加呈显著相关，效应量中等，假发现率（FDR=0.040）。此外，女性的 DMRI 连接测量发现，AMAS 评分与 CC 膝部、右侧 ILF 和双侧穹窿的微观结构连通性呈正相关，效应量较小到中等（FDR=0.012），与双侧扣带束的微观结构连通性呈负相关，效应量较小到中等（FDR=0.032）。
我们的研究结果支持以下观点，即与语言处理区域（如 AF）或边缘系统（扣带束、CC、穹窿和 ILF）具有功能关系的结构在 MA 中起重要作用。
