All articles tagged with #functional connectivity
Resting-state fMRI shows both schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder patients have reduced coordination between distant brain regions compared with healthy controls, with broader network changes in schizophrenia; the results hint at overlapping brain network disturbances but do not yet serve as a diagnostic test.
Researchers mapped the brain-wide connectivity of pediatric diffuse midline gliomas (DMG) and defined a conserved DMG network whose connectivity to each patient’s tumor independently predicts overall survival across two external validation cohorts. The DMG network shows tumor growth trajectories and metabolic changes that peak within development-aligned windows, with single-nucleus RNA-seq revealing enriched synaptic genes in high-connectivity DMG. Structural-connectome analyses reproduce the network, spinal metastases preferentially involve DMG network nodes, and incidental resection of high-connectivity tissue is associated with longer survival, suggesting DMGs exploit intact brain circuits. Together, these findings propose a prognostic brain network in DMG that could inform surgical strategies and future therapies.
A longitudinal MRI study of 25 first-time fathers shows early widespread gray matter reductions in areas tied to sensory processing, self-referential thinking, and social cognition during the first six weeks after birth, followed by later increases in frontal and cerebellar regions related to planning and emotional control. Functional connectivity also shifts, weakening links to sensory regions and strengthening those related to emotion and cognitive control. Researchers identify weeks six to nine as a critical window for paternal neuroplasticity, indicating that the brain’s reorganization is a real biological feature of early fatherhood, not just a social adjustment.
A multi-dataset analysis of over 500 brain scans from 267 participants shows psilocybin, LSD, mescaline, DMT, and ayahuasca produce a shared brain-state: weakened within-network connections and increased cross-network communication. This common neural signature could help standardize psychedelic research and guide future mental-health therapies, though the study used healthy adults and variations across datasets mean more work is needed.
A study of 123 children found that those with ADHD plus impairing emotional outbursts have thicker left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and weaker resting-state connectivity between the DLPFC and networks involved in vision, attention, and salience, suggesting a distinct neural signature for severe emotion dysregulation in ADHD; however, causality can’t be determined from a cross‑sectional design, and short MRI scans and parental questionnaires limit interpretation.
Researchers publish the first lifespan atlas of brain functional connectivity, using fMRI data from about 3,600 people aged from infancy to 100 years to chart how brain networks reorganize from sensory processing to higher‑order cognition and relate to cognitive performance in young adults.
A large UK Biobank imaging study of over 25,000 participants aged 44–81 found that lifetime cannabis users have brain connectivity patterns that resemble younger brains and outperformed non-users on several cognitive tests, with aging-related networks showing opposite changes; however, being cross-sectional and based on lifetime use, the study cannot establish causation and the effects are modest.
A large, multi-modal study proposes Parkinson’s disease as a somato-cognitive action network (SCAN) disorder, showing PD features SCAN-to-subcortex hyperconnectivity that is reduced by dopaminergic therapy and various neuromodulation methods (DBS, MRgFUS, TMS, adaptive DBS). Targeting SCAN nodes—especially cortical SCAN regions—yields greater symptom relief than conventional effector-area targets, suggesting a circuit-based pathophysiology and treatment strategy, with SCAN connectivity serving as a potential biomarker and guide for personalized therapy.
A study using brain imaging of fetuses and infants reveals a rapid increase in functional brain connectivity at birth, particularly in subcortical, sensorimotor, and superior frontal regions. This reorganization aids adaptation to the external world and highlights the sensitivity of specific brain networks to environmental factors. The research provides insights into early brain adaptability and lays the groundwork for exploring how factors like prenatal adversity and prematurity influence brain development.
Researchers have used advanced brain imaging and machine learning techniques to identify altered functional brain connectivity in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), taking into account the diversity within the disorder. The study distinguishes between shared and individual-specific connectivity patterns in ASD, revealing both common and unique brain alterations. This personalized approach could pave the way for tailored treatments that address the specific neural characteristics of individuals with ASD.
A recent study identified multiple subtypes of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) using brain imaging. Over 2,000 participants were involved in the study, which analyzed functional connectivity in the brain. The findings reveal two distinct subtypes of MDD, each characterized by different patterns of brain connectivity, indicating the underlying complexity of depression. The work could help develop precise diagnostic and treatment strategies for each specific neurophysiological subtype of depression.
Preschool children with autism spectrum disorder who have sleep problems show heightened sensory sensitivity and excessive connectivity between the thalamus and auditory cortex regions of the brain, according to a neuroimaging study. The research also indicated a likely lack of auditory habituation during sleep. The study makes an important contribution to the scientific understanding of the physiological aspects of autism spectrum disorder.
Scientists have identified specific patterns of brain network reconfigurations that occur when people take both classical and non-classical psychedelic drugs. Both LSD and non-classical psychedelics like nitrous oxide and ketamine have similar effects on brain connectivity, suggesting that there may be a common biological mechanism underlying the effects of both classical and non-classical psychedelics on large-scale brain networks. The study identified certain areas in the brain that consistently showed changes in connectivity when people were under the influence of psychedelics.
A neuroimaging study has found that people with depression and insomnia have higher resting-state functional connectivity in the superior temporal gyrus region of the brain on both sides. This type of connectivity was decreased in the left supplementary motor area and bilateral postcentral gyrus regions of the brain. The study gives an important contribution to the scientific understanding of neural correlates of insomnia in people with depression.
Brain regions implicated in depression tend to develop differently in adolescent girls and boys, according to new research published in Science Advances. The findings provide evidence that there may be a connection between the way brain networks develop during adolescence and sex differences in the risk of depression. The study utilized a large fMRI dataset with approximately equal numbers of males and females. The results provide new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying the development of depression and may help to develop sex-specific prevention and treatment strategies for depression.