Aberrant Dynamic Functional Connectivity In Childhood Basic Intermittent Exotropia: an exploration in pathogenesis of visual center pathway

Motivation: To explore the pathogenesis and functional abnormalities in visual center pathway in children with basic intermittent exotropia and develop an accurate approach for early diagnosis. Goal(s): This study aims to uncover the neural basis of IXT by investigating the functional network alterations. Approach: We used dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) analysis of resting state fMRI data to detect the brain network changes in IXT. Results: Decreased dFC Variance between the left primary visual cortex and the left intermediate visual cortex, between the right ocular motor cortex and the right intermediate visual cortex were found in IXT children compared with HCs. Impact: Our study was the first to investigate the dynamic brain network changes among primary visual cortex secondary visual cortex, and ocular motor cortex in IXT. This enhanced understanding of the neuropathological mechanisms underlying visual and oculomotor impairments in IXT children.