Grip Strength Linked to Brain Connectivity and Well-being in Psychosis Study

A groundbreaking new study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center has revealed a significant link between grip strength, brain connectivity, and overall well-being, notably in individuals experiencing early psychosis. this research, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, represents the first analysis to connect grip strength and well-being to alterations in resting-state functional connectivity. The findings offer potential new avenues for treating psychomotor disturbances and improving quality of life for those with psychiatric disorders.

The Connection Between Physical Strength and brain Health

Researchers, led by heather Burrell Ward, MD, assistant professor of Psychiatry and behavioral Sciences at Vanderbilt, utilized data from the multisite Human Connectome Project for Early Psychosis.This extensive dataset included 206 participants – both individuals with early psychosis and healthy control subjects. A data-driven, connectome-wide analysis was employed to identify brain circuits associated with both grip strength and subjective well-being.

“We observed that higher grip strength was correlated with greater connectivity from multiple brain regions to the Default Mode Network (DMN),” explained Dr. Ward,the study’s first author. The DMN is a network of brain regions active when a person is not focused on the outside world and is thought to be involved in self-referential thought and internal processing.

This discovery is particularly noteworthy because it expands the understanding of grip strength beyond a simple measure of physical capability. It suggests a deeper neurological connection, indicating that grip strength can serve as a biomarker for overall brain health and functional connectivity.

Unifying Brain Correlates for Strength and Well-being

Intriguingly, when researchers repeated the analysis focusing on well-being, they found remarkably similar brain correlates to those identified for grip strength.

“We identified significant relationships between the same brain regions and their connectivity patterns to the DMN that were related to well-being, overall function and grip strength,” Dr.Ward stated. “These results have dramatic implications for treatment of psychomotor function in psychotic disorders, as they suggest a unifying role of DMN connectivity in psychomotor disturbance, overall function and well-being.”

This convergence suggests that interventions aimed at improving DMN connectivity could possibly address both psychomotor disturbances – often experienced in psychosis – and enhance overall well-being. The study highlights the interconnectedness of physical and mental health, demonstrating how a seemingly simple physical measure like grip strength can reflect complex brain processes.

Potential for Novel treatments Using Neuromodulation

The research opens doors for innovative treatment strategies, particularly utilizing noninvasive brain stimulation techniques. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is one such method capable of modulating DMN connectivity.As director of Neuromodulation Research in the Department of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt, Dr. Ward is currently leading clinical trials exploring the use of rTMS to target DMN connectivity in individuals with psychosis. These trials aim to determine if modulating DMN activity can alleviate psychomotor symptoms and improve overall functional outcomes.

“These results are exciting because they provide us with novel insights on what brain regions we should target to improve psychomotor function and overall well-being,” Dr. Ward concluded. “with our state-of-the art, fMRI-guided rTMS research at Vanderbilt, we can now test these interventions to develop novel and highly effective treatments for psychosis.”

This research represents a significant step forward in understanding the neurobiological basis of psychomotor disturbance and well-being in psychiatric disorders, offering hope for more targeted and effective treatments in the future.

Source: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. https://news.vumc.org/2025/06/25/study-unravels-the-neurobiological-mechanism-of-psychomotor-disturbance-in-psychiatric-disorders/

Journal reference: Ward,H. B., et al. (2025). Grip Strength as a Marker of Resting-State Network Integrity and Well-Being in Early Psychosis. American Journal of Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.20240780