Structural connector hub properties of the thalamus in large-scale brain networks: white matter structure as an anatomical basis

Connector hubs are critical to maintain the modular architecture of large-scale brain networks. This study aimed to explore the structural connector hub properties of the thalamus via the white matter pathways as an anatomical substrate. First, whole-brain tractography was performed to examine the thalamocortical structural connectivity (SC) based on the canonical seven resting-state networks (7-RSNs). It identified multiple overlapping clusters in the thalamus, which are highly connected to the canonical 7-RSNs. Graph theoretical analysis indicated that these clusters have higher participation coefficient (PC) and within-module degree Z-score (WMD) values, suggesting nodal centrality between separate modules. Further, thalamic nuclei with structurally defined connector hub properties showed high functional connectivity (FC) with canonical RSNs in multiple task-fMRI analyses. Collectively, these findings suggest that the thalamus harbors intrinsic structural connector hub properties in large-scale networks as an anatomical basis.