Brain dynamics supported by a hierarchy of complex correlation patterns defining a robust functional architecture
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) provides insights into cognitive processes with significant clinical potential. However, delays in brain region communication and dynamic variations are often overlooked in functional network studies. We demonstrate that networks extracted from fMRI cross-correlation matrices, considering time lags between signals, show remarkable reliability when focusing on statistical distributions of network properties. This reveals a robust brain functional connectivity pattern, featuring a sparse backbone of strong 0-lag correlations and weaker links capturing coordination at various time delays. This dynamic yet stable network architecture is consistent across rats, marmosets, and humans, as well as in electroencephalogram (EEG) data, indicating potential universality in brain dynamics. Second-order properties of the dynamic functional network reveal a remarkably stable hierarchy of functional correlations in both group-level comparisons and test-retest analyses. Validation using alcohol use disorder fMRI data uncovers broader shifts in network properties than previously reported, demonstrating the potential of this method for identifying disease biomarkers.
Authors
- Antonio Díaz‐Parra
- Levente Varga (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7770-6680)
- Mohamed Kotb Selim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8610-3147)
- Laura Pérez-Cervera
- Wolfgang H. Sommer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5903-6521)
- Mária Ercsey-Ravasz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4428-9953)
- David Moratal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2825-3646)
- Vasile V. Moca
- Botond Molnár
- Santiago Canals (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2175-8139)
- Raul C. Mureșan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7854-3775)
- Balázs Péntek
Institutions
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES)
- Heidelberg University (DE)
- University Hospital Heidelberg (DE)
- Babeș-Bolyai University (RO)
- Instituto de Neurociencias (ES)
- Central Institute of Mental Health (DE)
- Universitat Politècnica de València (ES)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cell Systems
- Published
- 2024-08-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cels.2024.07.003
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.37
Funders
- National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation
- European Commission
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Generalitat Valenciana
- Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad
- Autoritatea Natională pentru Cercetare Stiintifică
- Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai
- Unitatea Executiva pentru Finantarea Invatamantului Superior, a Cercetarii, Dezvoltarii si Inovarii
- Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
- European Regional Development Fund
- Agencia Estatal de Investigación