Neuropathophysiological

Social anxiety disorder (SAD), also known as social phobia, is the persistent fear of social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible public scrutiny. 1 Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a novel technique that has several potential advantages over task performance or stimulation in terms of clinical applicability. 2 3 4 Previous studies have found altered brain functions in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and limbic regions, including the amygdala, hippocampus, and insula, of SAD patients. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 However, investigation on SAD at the baseline levels or studies on the spontaneous activity of the brain must be conducted to obtain a clearer understanding of the neurobiology of the disorder. 3 14 Furthermore, a relationship has been observed between the altered spontaneous activity of the functionally relevant cortices and clinical features. 14 Thus, studying the spontaneous cerebral activity in drug-naïve adult patients with SAD may provide vital information for characterizing the neuropathophysiological mechanisms underlying the disorder.