Habenula contributions to negative self-cognitions

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. Glarin, Alec J. Jamieson and Trevor Steward ()
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Po-Han Kung: University of Melbourne
Matthew D. Greaves: University of Melbourne
Eva Guerrero-Hreins: 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
Robyn M. Brown: 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

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59611-7

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