fMRI Examination of the Spatiotemporal Alterations of Brain Networks in Rodent Model of Acute Neuroinflammation

Motivation: Neuroinflammation plays a critical role in various neurological and psychiatric disorders, yet its large-scale functional impacts remain poorly understood. Goal(s): This study aims to establish an acute neuroinflammation rat model and investigate the associated behavioral changes and brain network alterations. Approach: We utilized resting-state fMRI to characterize the neuroinflammation-induced brain functional abnormalities and explore whether these changes contribute to the emergence of depressive-like behaviors. Results: This study revealed that acute neuroinflammation in rats leads to spatiotemporal alterations in brain functional networks, characterized by a shift from integrated cortical-subcortical interactions to a segregated state, potentially mediated by the retrosplenial cortex. Impact: This study examines the brain-wide functional alterations in acute neuroinflammation rat models. The observed changes in retrosplenial cortex-related brain networks provide new insights into the mechanisms of neuroinflammation-induced depressive symptoms and potential therapeutic targets.