Neural evidence for psychological flexibility interacts with nicotine dependence and negative symptoms

This study aimed to explore the relationship between psychological flexibility (PF), nicotine dependence (ND), psychotic symptoms (BPRS), and PCC-related connectivity using resting-state functional MRI data in schizophrenia patients.

Findings indicate a significant correlation (p < 0.01) between level of ND and connectivity from the left fronto-parietal angular gyrus to the accumbens (Figure1, and Figure2), and between BPRS scores and connectivity from the left fronto-parietal angular gyrus to the supramarginal gyrus (SMG) of the salience network (Figure3), with the PCC playing a pivotal role.
Crucially, we observed significant correlations in the same direction for the interactions of PF with ND and BPRS, respectively, for the connectivity paths associated with each. The interaction of psychological flexibility with ND and with BPRS showed significant correlations in the same direction with the connectivity from the angular gyrus to the accumbens, related to ND severity (Figure1), and from the angular gyrus to the SMG, related to BPRS severity (Figure3), respectively.

This finding highlights the potential of enhancing psychological flexibility through ACT to counteract or compensate for neurobiological vulnerabilities.