scholarly journals Time-resolved structure-function coupling in brain networks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen-Qi Liu ◽  
Bertha Vazquez-Rodriguez ◽  
R. Nathan Spreng ◽  
Boris Bernhardt ◽  
Richard F. Betzel ◽  
...  

The relationship between structural and functional connectivity in the brain is a key question in systems neuroscience. Modern accounts assume a single global structure-function relationship that persists over time. Here we show that structure-function coupling is dynamic and regionally heterogeneous. We use a temporal unwrapping procedure to identify moment-to-moment co-fluctuations in neural activity, and reconstruct time-resolved structure-function coupling patterns. We find that patterns of dynamic structure-function coupling are highly organized across the cortex. These patterns reflect cortical hierarchies, with stable coupling in unimodal and transmodal cortex, and dynamic coupling in intermediate regions, particularly in insular cortex (salience network) and frontal eye fields (dorsal attention network). Finally, we show that the variability of structure-function coupling is shaped by the distribution of connection lengths. The time-varying coupling of structural and functional connectivity points towards an informative feature of the brain that may reflect how cognitive functions are flexibly deployed and implemented.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milou Straathof ◽  
Michel R.T. Sinke ◽  
Theresia J.M. Roelofs ◽  
Erwin L.A. Blezer ◽  
R. Angela Sarabdjitsingh ◽  
...  

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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Milou Straathof ◽  
Michel R. T. Sinke ◽  
Theresia J. M. Roelofs ◽  
Erwin L. A. Blezer ◽  
R. Angela Sarabdjitsingh ◽  
...  

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 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 and macro-scale diffusion-based structural connectivity, but no significant correlation between functional connectivity and meso-scale neuronal tracer-based structural connectivity. Zooming in on individual connections, we found strong functional connectivity 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. Although characteristics of the applied techniques may affect where structural and functional networks (dis)agree, distinct structure-function relationships across the brain could also have a biological basis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zijin Gu ◽  
Keith Wakefield Jamison ◽  
Mert Rory Sabuncu ◽  
Amy Kuceyeski

AbstractWhite matter structural connections are likely to support flow of functional activation or functional connectivity. While the relationship between structural and functional connectivity profiles, here called SC-FC coupling, has been studied on a whole-brain, global level, few studies have investigated this relationship at a regional scale. Here we quantify regional SC-FC coupling in healthy young adults using diffusion-weighted MRI and resting-state functional MRI data from the Human Connectome Project and study how SC-FC coupling may be heritable and varies between individuals. We show that regional SC-FC coupling strength varies widely across brain regions, but was strongest in highly structurally connected visual and subcortical areas. We also show interindividual regional differences based on age, sex and composite cognitive scores, and that SC-FC coupling was highly heritable within certain networks. These results suggest regional structure-function coupling is an idiosyncratic feature of brain organisation that may be influenced by genetic factors.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (135) ◽  
pp. 20170484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew D. B. Jackson ◽  
Salva Duran-Nebreda ◽  
George W. Bassel

Multicellularity and cellular cooperation confer novel functions on organs following a structure–function relationship. How regulated cell migration, division and differentiation events generate cellular arrangements has been investigated, providing insight into the regulation of genetically encoded patterning processes. Much less is known about the higher-order properties of cellular organization within organs, and how their functional coordination through global spatial relations shape and constrain organ function. Key questions to be addressed include: why are cells organized in the way they are? What is the significance of the patterns of cellular organization selected for by evolution? What other configurations are possible? These may be addressed through a combination of global cellular interaction mapping and network science to uncover the relationship between organ structure and function. Using this approach, global cellular organization can be discretized and analysed, providing a quantitative framework to explore developmental processes. Each of the local and global properties of integrated multicellular systems can be analysed and compared across different tissues and models in discrete terms. Advances in high-resolution microscopy and image analysis continue to make cellular interaction mapping possible in an increasing variety of biological systems and tissues, broadening the further potential application of this approach. Understanding the higher-order properties of complex cellular assemblies provides the opportunity to explore the evolution and constraints of cell organization, establishing structure–function relationships that can guide future organ design.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han-Ha Chai ◽  
Young Ran Kim ◽  
Jun-Sang Ham ◽  
Tae-Hun Kim ◽  
Dajeong Lim

Abstract Background: The OppA receptor as a ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter plays key roles in protecting host organism and transport nutrients across the intestine by the oligopeptide transporter from symbiotic bacteria directs maturation of the host immune system. Among lactic acid bacteria, Bifidobacterium longum KACC91563, isolated from fecal samples of healthy Korean neonates, has the capability to alleviate food allergy effects. The extracellular OppA receptor from gram-positive Bifidobacterium longum KACC91563 translocate nutrients-peptides from the outside environment of intestinal tract to the inside of the symbiotic cell, as a peptide importer. Hence, it was attempting to explicate the relationship between the substrate’s specificity from the OppA importer and the probiotic effects of B. logum KACC91563 in the host intestine. The probiotic effects of B. logum KACC91563 were attributed to the enhancement of the epithelial barrier by several different strain sepcific ways to prevent the strong adhesion of pathogens. The specialized structure-function relationship from the OppA importer could provide the abstract of substrate specificity into unique immunological properties of that the host organism.Results: In the study, we characterized the extracellular OppA importer from B. longum KACC91563 of intestinal microbiome by various protein structure-based modelings in silico. Structural characterization by conserved 5 patches and 4 functional motifs from specific trace residues of the OppA importer. The hydrate surface of the binding site had been decipted by specific trace residues of the OppA that trace residues of Thr58, Lys185, Trp443, and Tyr447, which were characterized in highly exposed hydrophobic binding pocket by its aggregation prones. Therefore, the spatial aggregation propensity in the binding site of the extracellular OppA importer plays a vital role in the specific interaction determinant for peptide binding. In addition, alanine mutation energy values allowed for the virtual determination of the relationships between the energy effects of the peptide binding site mutation on the transporter structural stability, the peptide binding affinity, and the transporter-related peptide substrate selectivity from OppA importer. In particular, distinctive seven pharmacophoric features comprised of two H-bonding donor(P1), three H-bonding acceptor(P8), and two hydrophobic points (P5 and P8) matched the the OppA receptor-peptide ligand interactions within their binding pocket structure. There are distinct interactions to fix the positions of the N(P1) and C(P8) termini of the complex of OppA-peptide from B. longum KACC91563 such as side chain-specific interactions with the OppA, compared to that of the Lactococcus latis (L. lactics) OppA.Conclusions: The specialized structure-function relationship from the OppA import could provide the abstract of substrate specificity into unique immunological properties of the host organism by stucutre-based molecular modeling. In the current study, we attempted explication of the relationship between the substrate’s specificity from the OppA importer and the probiotic effects of B. longum KACC91563 in the host intestine based on the structure-function perspectives of the OppA importer. Moreover, functional characterization of solute-binding proteins (such as 15 cell wall proteins and 20 extracellular proteins) on the B. longum KACC91563 genome will lead to insight of key switch for substate’s metabolism into reprogramming immune responses in the host intestine.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongya Wu ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
Jun Feng

Brain connectivity plays an important role in determining the brain region’s function. Previous researchers proposed that the brain region’s function is characterized by that region’s input and output connectivity profiles. Following this proposal, numerous studies have investigated the relationship between connectivity and function. However, this proposal only utilizes direct connectivity profiles and thus is deficient in explaining individual differences in the brain region’s function. To overcome this problem, we proposed that a brain region’s function is characterized by that region’s multi-hops connectivity profile. To test this proposal, we used multi-hops functional connectivity to predict the individual face activation of the right fusiform face area (rFFA) via a multi-layer graph neural network and showed that the prediction performance is essentially improved. Results also indicated that the two-layer graph neural network is the best in characterizing rFFA’s face activation and revealed a hierarchical network for the face processing of rFFA.


2020 ◽  
Vol 61 (12) ◽  
pp. 1684-1694
Author(s):  
Artemis Andrianopoulou ◽  
Anastasia K Zikou ◽  
Loukas G Astrakas ◽  
Nafsika Gerolymatou ◽  
Vasileios Xydis ◽  
...  

Background Fatigue and depression are among the most common manifestations of primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS), but information is lacking on the relationship with brain function and microstructural changes. Purpose To investigate microstructural changes and brain connectivity in pSS, and to evaluate their relationship with fatigue and depression. Material and Methods The study included 29 patients with pSS (mean age 61.2 ± 12.1 years; disease duration 10.5 ± 5.9 years) and 28 controls (mean age 58.4 ± 9.2 years). All the patients completed the Beck’s depression and Fatigue Assessment Scale questionnaires. The imaging protocol consisted of: (i) standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pulse sequences (FLAIR, 3D T1W); (ii) a diffusion tensor imaging pulse sequence; and (iii) a resting state functional MRI pulse sequence. Resting state brain networks and maps of diffusion metrics were calculated and compared between patients and controls. Results Compared with the controls, the patients with pSS and depression showed increased axial, radial, and mean diffusivity and decreased fractional anisotropy; those without depression showed decreased axial diffusivity in major white matter tracts (superior longitudinal fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, corticospinal tract, anterior thalamic radiation, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, cingulum, uncinate fasciculus, and forceps minor-major). Decreased brain activation in the sensorimotor network was observed in the patients with pSS compared with the controls. No correlation was found between fatigue and structural or functional changes of the brain. Conclusion pSS is associated with functional connectivity abnormalities of the somatosensory cortex and microstructural abnormalities in major white matter tracts, which are more pronounced in depression.


Brain ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (7) ◽  
pp. 1955-1972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Preya Shah ◽  
Arian Ashourvan ◽  
Fadi Mikhail ◽  
Adam Pines ◽  
Lohith Kini ◽  
...  

Abstract How does the human brain’s structural scaffold give rise to its intricate functional dynamics? This is a central question in translational neuroscience that is particularly relevant to epilepsy, a disorder affecting over 50 million subjects worldwide. Treatment for medication-resistant focal epilepsy is often structural—through surgery or laser ablation—but structural targets, particularly in patients without clear lesions, are largely based on functional mapping via intracranial EEG. Unfortunately, the relationship between structural and functional connectivity in the seizing brain is poorly understood. In this study, we quantify structure-function coupling, specifically between white matter connections and intracranial EEG, across pre-ictal and ictal periods in 45 seizures from nine patients with unilateral drug-resistant focal epilepsy. We use high angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) tractography to construct structural connectivity networks and correlate these networks with time-varying broadband and frequency-specific functional networks derived from coregistered intracranial EEG. Across all frequency bands, we find significant increases in structure-function coupling from pre-ictal to ictal periods. We demonstrate that short-range structural connections are primarily responsible for this increase in coupling. Finally, we find that spatiotemporal patterns of structure-function coupling are highly stereotyped for each patient. These results suggest that seizures harness the underlying structural connectome as they propagate. Mapping the relationship between structural and functional connectivity in epilepsy may inform new therapies to halt seizure spread, and pave the way for targeted patient-specific interventions.


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