Common and Distinct Neural Connectomes Between Thought Control Ability and Happiness

Abstract

Thought control ability (TCA) refers to the ability to control unwanted thoughts, which is important for mental health and well-being. Previous studies indicated that TCA has a beneficial influence on happiness, but the underlying neural mechanisms of their relationship were poorly understood. The present study used the connectome-based predictive modelling (CPM) approach to examine the shared neural basis between TCA and happiness. The positive correlation between TCA and happiness was initially demonstrated in the behavior analysis. Results from the two CPM analyses (using TCA-related connectome to predict individuals’ happiness and using happiness-related connectome to predict individuals’ TCA) revealed the common and distinct neural connectomes between TCA and happiness. Specifically, the common neural connectomes between TCA and happiness exist at the network level, which involves the connections between the frontal-parietal network and the limbic lobe. In contrast, at the individual edge level, the TCA-related connectome was more concentrated in the posterior brain with key nodes in the ITG and precuneus, which were associated with self-referential processing and negative coping. Whereas the happiness-related was more concentrated in the anterior brain with key nodes in the insula, OFC, and SFG, which were associated with cognitive control and emotional regulation. Collectively, our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the TCA-happiness relationship, providing valuable insights for future research in promoting well-being through enhancing thought control ability.