Mediating Role of Intervention-Induced Changes in Left Amygdala-mPFC Functional Connectivity on Effects of Condition on Positive Emotional Memory Bias
To examine if the intervention-induced left amygdala-mPFC functional connectivity changes mediated any changes in positive emotional memory bias, we conducted a mediation analysis using Model 4 of the PROCESS macro (Hayes, As shown in the mediation analysis diagram (Fig. Left amygdala-mPFC mediation model of the relationship between condition and positive emotional memory bias. *Path coefficients for mediation model (We examined the mediation model depicted in Fig. While these findings suggest that the interventions affected positive emotional memory biases by influencing brain circuits involved in emotion regulation, it is also possible that both the left amygdala-mPFC functional connectivity and the emotional memory biases depended on some other intervention-related change, such as in mood or resting HRV. Indeed, higher baseline RMSSD was associated with higher positive emotional memory bias, First, we added change in mood as a covariate to the mediation model in Fig. The results of the mediation analysis suggest that the relationship between condition and positive emotional memory bias is fully mediated by the left amygdala-mPFC functional connectivity at post-intervention, due to the statistically significant indirect effect, even after controlling for changes in mood and resting HRV. As such, the increase in left amygdala-mPFC functional connectivity at post-intervention appeared to play a role in the intervention condition’s effects on positive emotional memory bias.