Ambiguity tolerance and resting-state functional connectivity: A preregistered conceptual replication in a Japanese sample

Objective: To examine how three dimensions of the Multidimensional Attitude toward Ambiguity Scale (MAAS)-Discomfort with Ambiguity, Absolutism, and Need for Complexity-relate to resting-state functional connectivity, conceptually replicating and extending the work of Liu et al. (2023) in a Japanese sample. Liu et al. (2023) reported that higher ambiguity tolerance was associated with stronger connectivity in integration and control networks, whereas lower ambiguity tolerance was associated with stronger connectivity in threat- and error-monitoring circuits. Of the three MAAS dimensions, Need for Complexity was the one most closely aligned with their measure. Methods: Thirty-nine participants underwent resting-state MRI and completed the MAAS. Region-of-interest (ROI)-to-ROI analyses were used to test the associations between each MAAS dimension and its hypothesized connectivity pair, controlling for age, sex, and head motion. Results: No MAAS dimension was significantly associated with its corresponding connectivity pair. Effect sizes were negligible, although the Need for Complexity showed a small zero-order correlation with inferior parietal lobule-middle cingulate cortex connectivity. Conclusions: These findings contrast with earlier reports using unidimensional measures, suggesting that previously observed neural correlates may not map directly onto specific MAAS dimensions. Larger, well-powered, cross-cultural studies are needed.