Functional Topography: Multidimensional Scaling and Functional Connectivity in the Brain

Introduction: There is growing scientific interest in understanding the biological mechanisms affecting and/or underlying violent behaviors in order to develop effective treatment and prevention programs. In recent years, neuroscientific research has tried to demonstrate whether the intrinsic activity within the brain at rest in the absence of any external stimulation (resting-state functional connectivity; RSFC) could be employed as a reliable marker for several cognitive abilities and personality traits that are important in behavior regulation, particularly, proneness to violence. Aims: This review aims to highlight the association between the RSFC among specific brain structures and the predisposition to experiencing anger and/or responding to stressful and distressing situations with anger in several populations. Methods: The scientific literature was reviewed following the PRISMA quality criteria for reviews, using the following digital databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, Psicodoc, and Dialnet. Results: The identification of 181 abstracts and retrieval of 34 full texts led to the inclusion of 17 papers. The results described in our study offer a better understanding of the brain networks that might explain the tendency to experience anger. The majority of the studies highlighted that diminished RSFC between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala might make people prone to reactive violence, but that it is also necessary to contemplate additional cortical (i.e. insula, gyrus [angular, supramarginal, temporal, fusiform, superior, and middle frontal], anterior and posterior cingulated cortex) and subcortical brain structures (i.e. hippocampus, cerebellum, ventral striatum, and nucleus centralis superior) in order to explain a phenomenon as complex as violence. Moreover, we also described the neural pathways that might underlie proactive violence and feelings of revenge, highlighting the RSFC between the OFC, ventral striatal, angular gyrus, mid-occipital cortex, and cerebellum. Conclusions. The results from this synthesis and critical analysis of RSFC findings in several populations offer guidelines for future research and for developing a more accurate model of proneness to violence, in order to create effective treatment and prevention programs.

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The brain network reflecting bodily self-consciousness: a functional connectivity study

Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience ◽

10.1093/scan/nst185 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 1904-1913 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

Silvio Ionta ◽

Roberto Martuzzi ◽

Roy Salomon ◽

Olaf Blanke

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Brain Network ◽

The Brain

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Type 1 diabetes affects the brain functional connectivity underlying working memory processing

Psychophysiology ◽

10.1111/psyp.13969 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Geisa B. Gallardo‐Moreno ◽

Francisco J. Alvarado‐Rodríguez ◽

Rebeca Romo‐Vázquez ◽

Hugo Vélez‐Pérez ◽

Andrés A. González‐Garrido

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Memory Processing ◽

Brain Functional Connectivity ◽

The Brain

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The geometry of correlation fields with an application to functional connectivity of the brain

10.1214/aoap/1029962864 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 1021-1057 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

Jin Cao ◽

Keith Worsley

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

The Brain

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Computerized physical and cognitive training improves the functional architecture of the brain in adults with Down syndrome: A network science EEG study

Network Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/netn_a_00177 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-21

Author(s):

Alexandra Anagnostopoulou ◽

Charis Styliadis ◽

Panagiotis Kartsidis ◽

Evangelia Romanopoulou ◽

Vasiliki Zilidou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Down Syndrome ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Cognitive Training ◽

Resting State ◽

Network Architecture ◽

Right Hemisphere ◽

Random Network ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Hierarchical Organization ◽

The Brain

Understanding the neuroplastic capacity of people with Down syndrome (PwDS) can potentially reveal the causal relationship between aberrant brain organization and phenotypic characteristics. We used resting-state EEG recordings to identify how a neuroplasticity-triggering training protocol relates to changes in the functional connectivity of the brain’s intrinsic cortical networks. Brain activity of 12 PwDS before and after a 10-week protocol of combined physical and cognitive training was statistically compared to quantify changes in directed functional connectivity in conjunction with psychosomatometric assessments. PwDS showed increased connectivity within the left hemisphere and from left-to-right hemisphere, as well as increased physical and cognitive performance. Our findings reveal a strong adaptive neuroplastic reorganization as a result of the training that leads to a less-random network with a more pronounced hierarchical organization. Our results go beyond previous findings by indicating a transition to a healthier, more efficient, and flexible network architecture, with improved integration and segregation abilities in the brain of PwDS. Resting-state electrophysiological brain activity is used here for the first time to display meaningful relationships to underlying Down syndrome processes and outcomes of importance in a translational inquiry. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04390321.

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Distinct structure-function relationships across cortical regions and connectivity scales in the rat brain

10.1101/742833 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Milou Straathof ◽

Michel R.T. Sinke ◽

Theresia J.M. Roelofs ◽

Erwin L.A. Blezer ◽

R. Angela Sarabdjitsingh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Structure Function ◽

Rat Brain ◽

Resting State ◽

Structural Connectivity ◽

Distinct Structure ◽

Macro Scale ◽

Function Relationship ◽

The Brain ◽

Meso Scale

AbstractAn improved understanding of the structure-function relationship in the brain is necessary to know to what degree structural connectivity underpins abnormal functional connectivity seen in many disorders. We integrated high-field resting-state fMRI-based functional connectivity with high-resolution macro-scale diffusion-based and meso-scale neuronal tracer-based structural connectivity, to obtain an accurate depiction of the structure-function relationship in the rat brain. Our main goal was to identify to what extent structural and functional connectivity strengths are correlated, macro- and meso-scopically, across the cortex. Correlation analyses revealed a positive correspondence between functional connectivity and macro-scale diffusion-based structural connectivity, but no correspondence between functional connectivity and meso-scale neuronal tracer-based structural connectivity. Locally, strong functional connectivity was found in two well-known resting-state networks: the sensorimotor and default mode network. Strong functional connectivity within these networks coincided with strong short-range intrahemispheric structural connectivity, but with weak heterotopic interhemispheric and long-range intrahemispheric structural connectivity. Our study indicates the importance of combining measures of connectivity at distinct hierarchical levels to accurately determine connectivity across networks in the healthy and diseased brain. Distinct structure-function relationships across the brain can explain the organization of networks and may underlie variations in the impact of structural damage on functional networks and behavior.

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Evaluation of the Short-Term Music Therapy on Brain Functions of Preterm Infants Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

Frontiers in Neurology ◽

10.3389/fneur.2021.649340 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Haoran Ren ◽

Liangyan Zou ◽

Laishuan Wang ◽

Chunmei Lu ◽

Yafei Yuan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Infrared Spectroscopy ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Music Therapy ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Music Intervention ◽

Short Term ◽

Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy ◽

Brain Functions ◽

The Brain

Music contains substantial contents that humans can perceive and thus has the capability to evoke positive emotions. Even though neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) can provide preterm infants a developmental environment, they still cannot fully simulate the environment in the womb. The reduced maternal care would increase stress levels in premature infants. Fortunately, music intervention has been proved that it can improve the NICU environment, such as stabilize the heart rate and the respiratory rate, reduce the incidence of apnea, and improve feeding. However, the effects of music therapy on the brain development of preterm infants need to be further investigated. In this paper, we evaluated the influence of short-term music therapy on the brain functions of preterm infants measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). We began by investigating how premature babies perceive structural information of music by calculating the correlations between music features and fNIRS signals. Then, the influences of short-term music therapy on brain functions were evaluated by comparing the resting-state functional connectivity before and after the short-term music therapy. The results show that distinct brain regions are responsible for processing corresponding musical features, indicating that preterm infants have the capability to process the complex musical content. However, the results of network analysis show that short-term music intervention is insufficient to cause the changes in cerebral functional connectivity. Therefore, long-term music therapy may be required to achieve the deserved effects on brain functional connectivity.

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Brain network dynamics correlate with personality traits

10.1101/702266 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aya Kabbara ◽

Veronique Paban ◽

Arnaud Weill ◽

Julien Modolo ◽

Mahmoud Hassan

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Resting State ◽

Brain Networks ◽

Neural Substrates ◽

Brain Network ◽

Functional Brain ◽

Human Connectome Project ◽

Functional Brain Networks ◽

The Brain

AbstractIntroductionIdentifying the neural substrates underlying the personality traits is a topic of great interest. On the other hand, it is now established that the brain is a dynamic networked system which can be studied using functional connectivity techniques. However, much of the current understanding of personality-related differences in functional connectivity has been obtained through the stationary analysis, which does not capture the complex dynamical properties of brain networks.ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using dynamic network measures to predict personality traits.MethodUsing the EEG/MEG source connectivity method combined with a sliding window approach, dynamic functional brain networks were reconstructed from two datasets: 1) Resting state EEG data acquired from 56 subjects. 2) Resting state MEG data provided from the Human Connectome Project. Then, several dynamic functional connectivity metrics were evaluated.ResultsSimilar observations were obtained by the two modalities (EEG and MEG) according to the neuroticism, which showed a negative correlation with the dynamic variability of resting state brain networks. In particular, a significant relationship between this personality trait and the dynamic variability of the temporal lobe regions was observed. Results also revealed that extraversion and openness are positively correlated with the dynamics of the brain networks.ConclusionThese findings highlight the importance of tracking the dynamics of functional brain networks to improve our understanding about the neural substrates of personality.

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Algebra dissociates from arithmetic in the brain semantic network

Behavioral and Brain Functions ◽

10.1186/s12993-022-00186-4 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Dazhi Cheng ◽

Mengyi Li ◽

Jiaxin Cui ◽

Li Wang ◽

Naiyi Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Supplementary Motor Area ◽

Semantic Network ◽

Brain Activation ◽

Motor Area ◽

Angular Gyrus ◽

Single Trial ◽

Positive Functional ◽

Brain Behavior ◽

The Brain

Abstract Background Mathematical expressions mainly include arithmetic (such as 8 − (1 + 3)) and algebra (such as a − (b + c)). Previous studies have shown that both algebraic processing and arithmetic involved the bilateral parietal brain regions. Although previous studies have revealed that algebra was dissociated from arithmetic, the neural bases of the dissociation between algebraic processing and arithmetic is still unclear. The present study uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify the specific brain networks for algebraic and arithmetic processing. Methods Using fMRI, this study scanned 30 undergraduates and directly compared the brain activation during algebra and arithmetic. Brain activations, single-trial (item-wise) interindividual correlation and mean-trial interindividual correlation related to algebra processing were compared with those related to arithmetic. The functional connectivity was analyzed by a seed-based region of interest (ROI)-to-ROI analysis. Results Brain activation analyses showed that algebra elicited greater activation in the angular gyrus and arithmetic elicited greater activation in the bilateral supplementary motor area, left insula, and left inferior parietal lobule. Interindividual single-trial brain-behavior correlation revealed significant brain-behavior correlations in the semantic network, including the middle temporal gyri, inferior frontal gyri, dorsomedial prefrontal cortices, and left angular gyrus, for algebra. For arithmetic, the significant brain-behavior correlations were located in the phonological network, including the precentral gyrus and supplementary motor area, and in the visuospatial network, including the bilateral superior parietal lobules. For algebra, significant positive functional connectivity was observed between the visuospatial network and semantic network, whereas for arithmetic, significant positive functional connectivity was observed only between the visuospatial network and phonological network. Conclusion These findings suggest that algebra relies on the semantic network and conversely, arithmetic relies on the phonological and visuospatial networks.

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