Altered brain connectivity in sagittal craniosynostosis

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 690-698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel S. Beckett ◽  
Eric D. Brooks ◽  
Cheryl Lacadie ◽  
Brent Vander Wyk ◽  
Roger J. Jou ◽  
...  

Object Sagittal nonsyndromic craniosynostosis (sNSC) is the most common form of NSC. The condition is associated with a high prevalence (> 50%) of deficits in executive function. The authors employed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional MRI to evaluate whether hypothesized structural and functional connectivity differences underlie the observed neurocognitive morbidity of sNSC. Methods Using a 3-T Siemens Trio MRI system, the authors collected DTI and resting-state functional connectivity MRI data in 8 adolescent patients (mean age 12.3 years) with sNSC that had been previously corrected via total vault cranioplasty and 8 control children (mean age 12.3 years) without craniosynostosis. Data were analyzed using the FMRIB Software Library and BioImageSuite. Results Analyses of the DTI data revealed white matter alterations approaching statistical significance in all supratentorial lobes. Statistically significant group differences (sNSC < control group) in mean diffusivity were localized to the right supramarginal gyrus. Analysis of the resting-state seed in relation to whole-brain data revealed significant increases in negative connectivity (anticorrelations) of Brodmann area 8 to the prefrontal cortex (Montreal Neurological Institute [MNI] center of mass coordinates [x, y, z]: −6, 53, 6) and anterior cingulate cortex (MNI coordinates 6, 43, 14) in the sNSC group relative to controls. Furthermore, in the sNSC patients versus controls, the Brodmann area 7, 39, and 40 seed had decreased connectivity to left angular gyrus (MNI coordinates −31, −61, 34), posterior cingulate cortex (MNI coordinates 13, −52, 18), precuneus (MNI coordinates 10, −55, 54), left and right parahippocampus (MNI coordinates −13, −52, 2 and MNI coordinates 11, −50, 2, respectively), lingual (MNI coordinates −11, −86, −10), and fusiform gyri (MNI coordinates −30, −79, −18). Intrinsic connectivity analysis also revealed altered connectivity between central nodes in the default mode network in sNSC relative to controls; the left and right posterior cingulate cortices (MNI coordinates −5, −35, 34 and MNI coordinates 6, −42, 39, respectively) were negatively correlated to right hemisphere precuneus (MNI coordinates 6, −71, 46), while the left ventromedial prefrontal cortex (MNI coordinates 6, 34, −8) was negatively correlated to right middle frontal gyrus (MNI coordinates 40, 4, 33). All group comparisons (sNSC vs controls) were conducted at a whole brain–corrected threshold of p < 0.05. Conclusions This study demonstrates altered neocortical structural and functional connectivity in sNSC that may, in part or substantially, underlie the neuropsychological deficits commonly reported in this population. Future studies combining analysis of multimodal MRI and clinical characterization data in larger samples of participants are warranted.

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Deng ◽  
Xing Zhang ◽  
Xiaoyan Bi ◽  
Chunhai Gao

Abstract Background Attachment theory demonstrates that early attachment experience shapes internal working models with mental representations of self and close relationships, which affects personality traits and interpersonal relationships in adulthood. Although research has focused on brain structural and functional underpinnings to disentangle attachment styles in healthy individuals, little is known about the spontaneous brain activity associated with self-reported attachment anxiety and avoidance during the resting state. Methods One hundred and nineteen individuals participated in the study, completing the Experience in Close Relationship scale immediately after an 8-min fMRI scanning. We used the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) signal of the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation and resting-state functional connectivity to identify attachment-related regions and networks. Results Consequently, attachment anxiety is closely associated with the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations in the right posterior cingulate cortex, over-estimating emotional intensity and exaggerating outcomes. Moreover, the functional connectivity between the posterior cingulate cortex and fusiform gyrus increases detection ability for potential threat or separation information, facilitating behavior motivation. The attachment avoidance is positively correlated with the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation in the bilateral lingual gyrus and right postcentral and negatively correlated with the bilateral orbital frontal cortex and inferior temporal gyrus. Functional connection with attachment avoidance contains critical nodes in the medial temporal lobe memory system, frontal-parietal network, social cognition, and default mode network necessary to deactivate the attachment system and inhibit attachment-related behavior. Conclusion and implications These findings clarify the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation and resting-state functional connectivity neural signature of attachment style, associated with attachment strategies in attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance individuals. These findings may improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of the attachment-related disorder.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jintao Wu ◽  
Qianxiang Zhou ◽  
Jiaxuan Li ◽  
Yang Chen ◽  
Shuyu Shao ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundCognitive abilities are impaired by sleep deprivation and can be recovered when sufficient sleep is obtained. Changes in alpha-band oscillations are considered to be highly related to sleep deprivation. The effect of sleep deprivation on brain activation and functional connectivity in the resting-state alpha band remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate how sleep deprivation and recovery sleep could change resting-state alpha-band neural oscillations.MethodsIn this study, thirty young, healthy participants obtained approximately 8 h of normal sleep, followed by 36 h of sleep deprivation. On the following recovery night, subjects underwent recovery sleep. Resting-state EEG after normal sleep, sleep deprivation and recovery sleep was recorded. Power spectrum, source localization and functional connectivity analyses were used to investigate the changes in resting-state alpha-band activity after normal sleep, sleep deprivation and recovery sleep.ResultsThe results showed that the global alpha power spectrum decreased and source activation was notably reduced in the precuneus, posterior cingulate cortex, cingulate gyrus, and paracentral lobule after sleep deprivation. Functional connectivity analysis after sleep deprivation showed a weakened functional connectivity pattern in a widespread network with the precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex as the key nodes. Furthermore, the changes caused by sleep deprivation were reversed to a certain extent but not significantly after one night of sleep recovery, which may be due to inadequate time for recovery sleep.ConclusionsIn conclusion, large-scale resting-state alpha-band activation and functional connectivity were weakened after sleep deprivation, and the inhibition of default mode network function with the precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex as the pivotal nodes may be an important cause of cognitive impairment. These findings provide new insight into the physiological response of sleep deprivation and determine how sleep deprivation disrupts brain alpha-band oscillations.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fuyu Wang ◽  
Peng Wang ◽  
Ze Li ◽  
Tao Zhou ◽  
Xianghui Meng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Pituitary adenoma(PA) may compress the optic apparatus and cause impaired vision. Some patients can get improved vision rapidly after surgery. During the early time after surgery, however, the change of neurofunction in extra-visual cortex and higher cognitive cortex is still yet to be explored so far. Objective: Our study is focused on the changes in the extra-visual resting-state networks in PA patients after vision restoration. Methods:We recruited 14 PA patients with visual improvement after surgery. The functional connectivity (FC) of 6 seeds (auditory cortex (A1), Broca's area, posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)for default mode network (DMN), right caudal anterior cingulate cortex for salience network(SN) and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for excecutive control network (ECN)) were evaluated. A paired t-test was conducted to identify the differences between two groups. Results: Compared with the preoperation counterparts, the PA patients with improved vision exhibited decreased FC with right A1 was identified in left insula lobule, right middle temporal gyrus and left postcentral gyrus, and increased FC in the right paracentral lobule; decreased FC with broca in left middle temporal gyrus, and increased FC in left Insula lobule and right thalamus; decreased FC with DMN in right declive, and right precuneus, and increased FC in right brodmann area 17, left cuneus and right posterior cingulate; decreased FC with ECN in right posterior cingulate, right angular and right precuneus; decreased FC with SN in right middle temporal gyrus, right hippocampus, and right precuneus, and increased FC in right fusiform gyrus, left lingual gyrus and right brodmann area 19.Conclusions: The vision restoration may cause the response of cross-modal plasticity and the multisensory system related to A1 and broca. The DMN and SN may involve in top-down control on the subareas within vision cortex. The precuneus may involve in DMN, ECN and SN simultaneously.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Traian Popa ◽  
Laurel S. Morris ◽  
Rachel Hunt ◽  
Zhi-De Deng ◽  
Silvina Horovitz ◽  
...  

AbstractThe mesial prefrontal cortex, cingulate cortex and the ventral striatum are key nodes of the human mesial fronto-striatal circuit involved in decision-making and executive function and pathological disorders. Here we ask whether deep wide-field repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the mesial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) influences resting state functional connectivity. In Study 1, we examined functional connectivity using resting state multi-echo and independent components analysis in 154 healthy subjects to characterize default connectivity in the MPFC and mid-cingulate cortex (MCC). In Study 2, we used inhibitory, 1 Hz deep rTMS with the H7-coil targeting MPFC and dorsal anterior cingulate (dACC) in a separate group of 20 healthy volunteers and examined pre-and post-TMS functional connectivity using seed-based and independent components analysis. In Study 1, we show that MPFC and MCC have distinct patterns of functional connectivity with MPFC–ventral striatum showing negative, whereas MCC–ventral striatum showing positive functional connectivity. Low-frequency rTMS decreased functional connectivity of MPFC and dACC with the ventral striatum. We further showed enhanced connectivity between MCC and ventral striatum. These findings emphasize how deep inhibitory rTMS using the H7-coil can influence underlying network functional connectivity by decreasing connectivity of the targeted MPFC regions, thus potentially enhancing response inhibition and decreasing drug cue reactivity processes relevant to addictions. The unexpected finding of enhanced default connectivity between MCC and ventral striatum may be related to the decreased influence and connectivity between the MPFC and MCC. These findings are highly relevant to the treatment of disorders relying on the mesioprefrontal–cingulo–striatal circuit.


2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 794-806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jooyoung Oh ◽  
Jung Eun Shin ◽  
Kyu Hyun Yang ◽  
Sunghyon Kyeong ◽  
Woo Suk Lee ◽  
...  

Objective: Delirium is an acute brain failure related to uncertain problems in neural connectivity, including aberrant functional interactions between remote cortical regions. This study aimed to elucidate the underlying neural mechanisms of delirium by clarifying the changes in resting-state functional connectivity induced by postoperative delirium using imaging data scanned before and after surgery. Method: Fifty-eight patients with a femoral neck fracture were preoperatively scanned using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Twenty-five patients developed postoperative delirium, and 14 of those had follow-up scans during delirium. Eighteen patients without delirium completed follow-up scans 5 or 6 days after surgery. We assessed group differences in voxel-based connectivity, in which the seeds were the posterior cingulate cortex, medial prefrontal cortex and 11 subcortical regions. Connections between the subcortical regions were also examined. Results: The results showed four major findings during delirium. Both the posterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex were strongly connected to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The posterior cingulate cortex had hyperconnectivity with the inferior parietal lobule, whereas the medial prefrontal cortex had hyperconnectivity with the frontopolar cortex and hypoconnectivity with the superior frontal gyrus. Connectivity of the striatum with the anterior cingulate cortex and insula was increased. Disconnections were found between the lower subcortical regions including the neurotransmitter origins and the striatum/thalamus in the upper level. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that cortical dysfunction during delirium is characterized by a diminution of the anticorrelation between the default mode network and task-positive regions, excessive internal connections in the posterior default mode network and a complex imbalance of internal connectivity in the anterior default mode network. These dysfunctions can be attributed to the loss of reciprocity between the default mode network and central executive network associated with defective function in the salience network, which might be closely linked to aberrant subcortical neurotransmission-related connectivity and striato-cortical connectivity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jintao Wu ◽  
Qianxiang Zhou ◽  
Jiaxuan Li ◽  
Yang Chen ◽  
Shuyu Shao ◽  
...  

AbstractCognitive abilities are impaired by sleep deprivation and can be recovered when sufficient sleep is obtained. Changes in alpha-band oscillations are considered to be closely related to sleep deprivation. In this study, power spectrum, source localization and functional connectivity analyses were used to investigate the changes in resting-state alpha-band activity after normal sleep, sleep deprivation and recovery sleep. The results showed that the global alpha power spectrum decreased and source activation was notably reduced in the precuneus, posterior cingulate cortex, cingulate gyrus, and paracentral lobule after sleep deprivation. Functional connectivity analysis after sleep deprivation showed a weakened functional connectivity pattern in a widespread network with the precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex as the key nodes. Furthermore, the changes caused by sleep deprivation were reversed to a certain extent but not significantly after one night of sleep recovery, which may be due to inadequate time for recovery sleep. In conclusion, large-scale resting-state alpha-band activation and functional connectivity were weakened after sleep deprivation, and the inhibition of default mode network function with the precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex as the pivotal nodes may be an important cause of cognitive impairment. These findings provide new insight into the physiological response to sleep deprivation and determine how sleep deprivation disrupts brain alpha-band oscillations.


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