Brain connectivity-based prediction of real-life creativity is mediated by semantic memory structure

Creative cognition relies on the ability to form remote associations between concepts, which allows to generate novel ideas or solve new problems. Such an ability is related to the organisation of semantic memory; yet whether real-life creative behaviour relies on semantic memory organisation and its neural substrates remains unclear. Therefore, this study explored associations between brain functional connectivity patterns, network properties of individual semantic memory, and real-life creativity. We acquired multi-echo functional MRI data while participants underwent a semantic relatedness judgment task. These ratings were used to estimate their individual semantic memory networks, whose properties significantly predicted their real-life creativity. Using a connectome-based predictive modelling approach, we identified patterns of task-based functional connectivity that predicted creativity-related semantic memory network properties. Furthermore, these properties mediated the relationship between functional connectivity and real-life creativity. These results provide new insights into how brain connectivity supports the associative mechanisms of creativity.

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Resting-state brain network topological properties and the correlation with neuropsychological assessment in adolescent narcolepsy

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsaa018 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 (8) ◽

Author(s):

Xiao Fulong ◽

Spruyt Karen ◽

Lu Chao ◽

Zhao Dianjiang ◽

Zhang Jun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Neuropsychological Assessment ◽

Resting State ◽

Brain Connectivity ◽

Small World ◽

Theoretical Method ◽

Brain Network ◽

Topological Properties ◽

Depressive Feelings ◽

Network Properties

Abstract Study Objectives To evaluate functional connectivity and topological properties of brain networks, and to investigate the association between brain topological properties and neuropsychiatric behaviors in adolescent narcolepsy. Methods Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and neuropsychological assessment were applied in 26 adolescent narcolepsy patients and 30 healthy controls. fMRI data were analyzed in three ways: group independent component analysis and a graph theoretical method were applied to evaluate topological properties within the whole brain. Lastly, network-based statistics was utilized for group comparisons in region-to-region connectivity. The relationship between topological properties and neuropsychiatric behaviors was analyzed with correlation analyses. Results In addition to sleepiness, depressive symptoms and impulsivity were detected in adolescent narcolepsy. In adolescent narcolepsy, functional connectivity was decreased between regions of the limbic system and the default mode network (DMN), and increased in the visual network. Adolescent narcolepsy patients exhibited disrupted small-world network properties. Regional alterations in the caudate nucleus (CAU) and posterior cingulate gyrus were associated with subjective sleepiness and regional alterations in the CAU and inferior occipital gyrus were associated with impulsiveness. Remodeling within the salience network and the DMN was associated with sleepiness, depressive feelings, and impulsive behaviors in narcolepsy. Conclusions Alterations in brain connectivity and regional topological properties in narcoleptic adolescents were associated with their sleepiness, depressive feelings, and impulsive behaviors.

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Reduced functional connectivity between salience and visual networks in migraine with aura

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1177/0333102415583144 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 53-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

David M Niddam ◽

Kuan-Lin Lai ◽

Jong-Ling Fuh ◽

Chih-Ying Naomi Chuang ◽

Wei-Ta Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Visual Processing ◽

Brain Connectivity ◽

Anterior Insula ◽

Cognitive Networks ◽

Visual Aura ◽

Compensatory Response ◽

Visual Deficits ◽

Headache Severity ◽

Brain Functional Connectivity

Background Migraine with visual aura (MA) is associated with distinct visual disturbances preceding migraine attacks, but shares other visual deficits in between attacks with migraine without aura (MO). Here, we seek to determine if abnormalities specific to interictal MA patients exist in functional brain connectivity of intrinsic cognitive networks. In particular, these networks are involved in top-down modulation of visual processing. Methods Using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, whole-brain functional connectivity maps were derived from seeds placed in the anterior insula and the middle frontal gyrus, key nodes of the salience and dorsal attention networks, respectively. Twenty-six interictal MA patients were compared with 26 matched MO patients and 26 healthy matched controls. Results The major findings were: connectivity between the anterior insula and occipital areas, including area V3A, was reduced in MA but not in MO. Connectivity changes between the anterior insula and occipital areas further correlated with the headache severity in MA only. Conclusions The unique pattern of connectivity changes found in interictal MA patients involved area V3A, an area previously implicated in aura generation. Hypoconnectivity to this and other occipital regions may either represent a compensatory response to occipital dysfunctions or predispose MA patients to the development of aura.

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Is There a Difference in Brain Functional Connectivity between Chinese Coal Mine Workers Who Have Engaged in Unsafe Behavior and Those Who Have Not?

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph19010509 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 509

Author(s):

Fangyuan Tian ◽

Hongxia Li ◽

Shuicheng Tian ◽

Chenning Tian ◽

Jiang Shao

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Coal Mine ◽

Brain Connectivity ◽

Clustering Coefficient ◽

Mine Safety ◽

Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy ◽

Functional Brain ◽

Unsafe Behavior ◽

Brain Functional Connectivity ◽

Mine Workers

(1) Background: As a world-recognized high-risk occupation, coal mine workers need various cognitive functions to process the surrounding information to cope with a large number of perceived hazards or risks. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the connection between coal mine workers’ neural activity and unsafe behavior from the perspective of cognitive neuroscience. This study explored the functional brain connectivity of coal mine workers who have engaged in unsafe behaviors (EUB) and those who have not (NUB). (2) Methods: Based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a total of 106 workers from the Hongliulin coal mine of Shaanxi North Mining Group, one of the largest modern coal mines in China, completed the test. Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient (COR) analysis, brain network analysis, and two-sample t-test were used to investigate the difference in brain functional connectivity between the two groups. (3) Results: The results showed that there were significant differences in functional brain connectivity between EUB and NUB among the frontopolar area (p = 0.002325), orbitofrontal area (p = 0.02102), and pars triangularis Broca’s area (p = 0.02888). Small-world properties existed in the brain networks of both groups, and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex had significant differences in clustering coefficient (p = 0.0004), nodal efficiency (p = 0.0384), and nodal local efficiency (p = 0.0004). (4) Conclusions: This study is the first application of fNIRS to the field of coal mine safety. The fNIRS brain functional connectivity analysis is a feasible method to investigate the neuropsychological mechanism of unsafe behavior in coal mine workers in the view of brain science.

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The effect of fatigue on brain connectivity networks

Brain Science Advances ◽

10.26599/bsa.2020.9050008 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 120-131

Author(s):

Shangen Zhang ◽

Jingnan Sun ◽

Xiaorong Gao

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Normal State ◽

Brain Connectivity ◽

Memory Task ◽

Visual Presentation ◽

Mental States ◽

Parietal Region ◽

Brain Response ◽

Brain Functional Connectivity ◽

The Brain

In the fatigue state, the neural response characteristics of the brain might be different from those in the normal state. Brain functional connectivity analysis is an effective tool for distinguishing between different brain states. For example, comparative studies on the brain functional connectivity have the potential to reveal the functional differences in different mental states. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between human mental states and brain control abilities by analyzing the effect of fatigue on the brain response connectivity. In particular, the phase‐scrambling method was used to generate images with two noise levels, while the N‐back working memory task was used to induce the fatigue state in subjects. The paradigm of rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) was used to present visual stimuli. The analysis of brain connections in the normal and fatigue states was conducted using the open‐source eConnectome toolbox. The results demonstrated that the control areas of neural responses were mainly distributed in the parietal region in both the normal and fatigue states. Compared to the normal state, the brain connectivity power in the parietal region was significantly weakened under the fatigue state, which indicates that the control ability of the brain is reduced in the fatigue state.

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A systematic review of brain functional connectivity patterns involved in episodic and semantic memory

Reviews in the Neurosciences ◽

10.1515/revneuro-2018-0117 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (8) ◽

pp. 889-902 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nicole Palacio ◽

Fernando Cardenas

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Semantic Memory ◽

Resting State ◽

Declarative Memory ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Hub And Spoke ◽

Active Involvement ◽

Specific Memory ◽

Brain Functional Connectivity

Abstract The study of functional connectivity and declarative memory has lately been focused on finding biomarkers of neuropsychological diseases. However, little is known about its patterns in healthy brains. Thus, in this systematic review we analyze and integrate the findings of 81 publications regarding functional connectivity (measured by fMRI during both task and resting-state) and semantic and episodic memory in healthy adults. Moreover, we discriminate and analyze the main areas and links found in specific memory phases (encoding, storage or retrieval) based on several criteria, such as time length, depth of processing, rewarding value of the information, vividness and amount or kind of details retrieved. There is a certain degree of overlap between the networks of episodic and semantic memory and between the encoding and retrieval stages. Although several differences are pointed out during the article, this calls to attention the need for further empirical studies that actively compare both types of memory, particularly using other baseline conditions apart from the traditional resting state. Indeed, the active involvement of the default mode network in both declarative memory and resting condition suggests the possibility that during rest there is an on-going memory processing. We find support for the ‘attention to memory’ hypothesis, the memory differentiation model and the appropriate transfer hypothesis, but some evidence is inconsistent with the traditional hub-and-spoke model.

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HIV-related decreased brain activity during a semantic memory task is reflected in spontaneous brain functional connectivity

Health Psychology Report ◽

10.5114/hpr.2020.94720 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 120-135

Author(s):

Anna Egbert ◽

Agnieszka Pluta ◽

Marta Sobańska ◽

Natalia Gawron ◽

Bogna Szymańska-Kotwica ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Semantic Memory ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Memory Task ◽

Brain Functional Connectivity

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Brain functional connectivity upon awakening from sleep predicts interindividual differences in dream recall frequency

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsaa116 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 (12) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Raphael Vallat ◽

Alain Nicolas ◽

Perrine Ruby

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Short Term Memory ◽

Brain Connectivity ◽

Dream Recall ◽

Mental Calculation ◽

Interindividual Differences ◽

Sleep Inertia ◽

Early Afternoon ◽

Brain Functional Connectivity ◽

The Brain

Abstract Why do some individuals recall dreams every day while others hardly ever recall one? We hypothesized that sleep inertia—the transient period following awakening associated with brain and cognitive alterations—could be a key mechanism to explain interindividual differences in dream recall at awakening. To test this hypothesis, we measured the brain functional connectivity (combined electroencephalography–functional magnetic resonance imaging) and cognition (memory and mental calculation) of high dream recallers (HR, n = 20) and low dream recallers (LR, n = 18) in the minutes following awakening from an early-afternoon nap. Resting-state scans were acquired just after or before a 2 min mental calculation task, before the nap, 5 min after awakening from the nap, and 25 min after awakening. A comic was presented to the participants before the nap with no explicit instructions to memorize it. Dream(s) and comic recall were collected after the first post-awakening scan. As expected, between-group contrasts of the functional connectivity at 5 min post-awakening revealed a pattern of enhanced connectivity in HR within the default mode network (DMN) and between regions of the DMN and regions involved in memory processes. At the behavioral level, a between-group difference was observed in dream recall, but not comic recall. Our results provide the first evidence that brain functional connectivity right after awakening is associated with interindividual trait differences in dream recall and suggest that the brain connectivity of HR at awakening facilitates the maintenance of the short-term memory of the dream during the sleep–wake transition.

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The Differences in the Whole-Brain Functional Network between Cantonese-Mandarin Bilinguals and Mandarin Monolinguals

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11030310 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 310

Author(s):

Xiaoxuan Fan ◽

Yujia Wu ◽

Lei Cai ◽

Jingwen Ma ◽

Ning Pan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Semantic Processing ◽

Brain Connectivity ◽

Occipital Cortex ◽

Brain Network ◽

Network Efficiency ◽

Whole Brain ◽

Strongly Connected ◽

The Right ◽

Brain Functional Connectivity

Cantonese-Mandarin bilinguals are logographic-logographic bilinguals that provide a unique population for bilingual studies. Whole brain functional connectivity analysis makes up for the deficiencies of previous bilingual studies on the seed-based approach and helps give a complete picture of the brain connectivity profiles of logographic-logographic bilinguals. The current study is to explore the effect of the long-term logographic-logographic bilingual experience on the functional connectivity of the whole-brain network. Thirty Cantonese-Mandarin bilingual and 30 Mandarin monolingual college students were recruited in the study. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) was performed to investigate the whole-brain functional connectivity differences by network-based statistics (NBS), and the differences in network efficiency were investigated by graph theory between the two groups (false discovery rate corrected for multiple comparisons, q = 0.05). Compared with the Mandarin monolingual group, Cantonese-Mandarin bilinguals increased functional connectivity between the bilateral frontoparietal and temporal regions and decreased functional connectivity in the bilateral occipital cortex and between the right sensorimotor region and bilateral prefrontal cortex. No significant differences in network efficiency were found between the two groups. Compared with the Mandarin monolinguals, Cantonese-Mandarin bilinguals had no significant discrepancies in network efficiency. However, the Cantonese-Mandarin bilinguals developed a more strongly connected subnetwork related to language control, inhibition, phonological and semantic processing, and memory retrieval, whereas a weaker connected subnetwork related to visual and phonology processing, and speech production also developed.

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Longitudinal variations of brain functional connectivity: A case report study based on a mouse model of epilepsy

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.6570.1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. 144 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A. Erramuzpe ◽

J. M. Encinas ◽

A. Sierra ◽

M. Maletic-Savatic ◽

A.L. Brewster ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Status Epilepticus ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Mouse Model ◽

Latent Period ◽

Brain Connectivity ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Longitudinal Variations ◽

Brain Functional Connectivity ◽

The Brain

Brain Functional Connectivity (FC) quantifies statistical dependencies between areas of the brain.FC has been widely used to address altered function of brain circuits in control conditions compared to different pathological states, including epilepsy, a major neurological disorder. However, FC also has the as yet unexplored potential to help us understand the pathological transformation of the brain circuitry.Our hypothesis is that FC can differentiate global brain interactions across a time-scale of days. To this end, we present a case report study based on a mouse model for epilepsy and analyze longitudinal intracranial electroencephalography data of epilepsy to calculate FC across three stages: 1, the initial insult (status epilepticus); 2, the latent period, when epileptogenic networks emerge; and 3, chronic epilepsy, when unprovoked seizures occur as spontaneous events.We found that the overall network FC at low frequency bands decreased immediately after status epilepticus was provoked, and increased monotonously later on during the latent period. Overall, our results demonstrate the capacity of FC to address longitudinal variations of brain connectivity across the establishment of pathological states.

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A Comparative Study of the Effect of Weighted or Binary Functional Brain Networks in fMRI Data Analysis

Frontiers in Biomedical Technologies ◽

10.18502/fbt.v7i3.4618 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hesam Ahmadi ◽

Emad Fatemizadeh ◽

Ali Motie Nasrabadi

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Brain Connectivity ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Clustering Coefficient ◽

Fmri Data ◽

Threshold Method ◽

P Values ◽

Fixed Threshold ◽

Brain Functional Connectivity ◽

The Brain

Purpose: Graph theory is a widely used and reliable tool to quantify brain connectivity. Brain functional connectivity is modeled as graph edges employing correlation coefficients. The correlation coefficients can be used as the weight that shows the power of connectivity between two nodes or can be binarized to show the existence of a connection regardless of its strength. To binarize the brain graph two approaches, namely fixed threshold and fixed density are often used. Materials and Methods: This paper aims to investigate the difference between weighted or binarized graphs in brain functional connectivity analysis. To achieve this goal, the brain connectivity matrices are generated employing the functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). After preprocessing the data, weighted and binarized connectivity matrices are constructed using a fixed threshold and fixed density techniques. Graph global features are extracted and a non-parametric statistical test is performed to analyze the performance of the methods. Results: Results show that all three methods are powerful in distinguishing the healthy group from AD subjects. The P-Values of the weighted graph is close to the fixed threshold method. Conclusion: Also, it is worthwhile mentioning that the fixed threshold method is robust in changing the threshold while the fixed density method is very sensitive. On the other hand, graph global measures such as clustering coefficient and transitivity, regardless of the method, show significant differences between the control and AD groups. Furthermore, the P-Values of modularity measure are very varied according to the method and the selected threshold.

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