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IEEE J Biomed Health Inform. 2026 Feb 19;PP. doi: 10.1109/JBHI.2026.3666277. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Recent studies have demonstrated strong associations between the changes in dynamic functional connectivity (FC) and both behavioral and cognitive functions. The sliding window technique is the most widely used method for evaluating dynamic FC; however, it faces two key challenges: distributional shifts across windows and high dimensionality, as FC is computed across windows of the entire time series. To address these issues, we propose BRAINMAP (Bi-level Representation using Attention for INterpretability with Mamba-Aided Prediction) to model the dynamic FC of the brain. BRAINMAP employs the Optimal Transport technique to correct distributional shifts across sliding windows and leverages Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) in conjunction with a hybrid approach that integrates an attention mechanism and the Mamba block to effectively capture spatiotemporal features for functional MR images. Finally, we introduce a novel Top-K sliding window feature selection algorithm to induce sparsity in dynamic FC. We conducted an extensive evaluation of our model for diagnosing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) using three resting-state fMRI datasets: ADHD-200, UCLA, and CNI-TLC, which comprise a total of 447 subjects with ADHD and 845 typically developing controls. Our architecture outperformed existing state-of-the-art dynamic FC models in ADHD detection, achieving improvements ranging from 3% to 12% across the three datasets. We demonstrate that our proposed model produces robust biomarkers, most notably the connection between the dorsal attention network and the visual network. Using an association study, we further establish the clinical relevance of the identified biomarkers.

PMID:41712397 | DOI:10.1109/JBHI.2026.3666277

Brain Connect. 2026 Feb 18:21580014261420411. doi: 10.1177/21580014261420411. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) disrupts cerebral hemodynamics and can lead to widespread alterations in brain network connectivity and cognitive function. This study aimed to evaluate spontaneous brain activity and cognitive changes in DAVF patients using resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) and neuropsychological assessment, with evaluations conducted at baseline, 1 month, and 1 year postembolization to capture dynamic recovery-related changes in brain function and cognition.

METHODS: Fifty DAVF patients and 50 age and sex-matched healthy controls underwent rsfMRI. Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and fractional ALFF (fALFF) metrics were computed at both whole-brain and network levels. Cognitive performance was assessed using Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE). All patients underwent embolization, followed by rsfMRI and ACE evaluations at 1 month and 1 year. ACE scores were included as covariates to explore cognitive-network associations.

RESULTS: Compared with controls, DAVF patients showed significantly increased ALFF in cerebellar regions and decreased ALFF/fALFF in frontal, insular, and parietal areas, especially within the Default Mode Network (DMN) and Dorsal Attention Network (DAN). Postembolization, rsfMRI metrics showed normalization trends, especially in DMN and DAN, mirroring improvements in ACE scores. ACE-based covariate analysis revealed domain-specific correlations: memory scores correlated with ALFF in the DMN (r = 0.62), and visuospatial scores with DAN (r = 0.55).

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides longitudinal evidence that DAVF disrupts brain network integrity and cognition, with partial recovery following treatment. rsfMRI-derived ALFF and fALFF measures, particularly when analyzed alongside cognitive scores, may provide preliminary support for future clinical applications in DAVF prognosis and monitoring.

PMID:41709435 | DOI:10.1177/21580014261420411

Transl Psychiatry. 2026 Feb 18. doi: 10.1038/s41398-026-03837-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) has been recognized as a serious mental illness and is often accompanied by depression (IGD-D). An ideal treatment strategy should have effects on both the conditions. Mindfulness meditation (MM) has attracted substantial attention for the treatment of psychiatric diseases; however, its effects on IGD-D and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. A total of 70 patients with IGD-D were randomly divided into the MM and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) groups. Of these patients, 61 completed the 1-month study (MM group, n = 34; PMR group, n = 27), including pre- and post-resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and 8 training sessions. Regional homogeneity and degree centrality were calculated, and overlapping brain regions were selected as seed points for functional connectivity (FC) analysis. The correlation of FC with behavioral data and neurotransmitters was subsequently evaluated. Compared with the PMR group, the MM group had less severe depression, addiction, and cravings. FC analysis showed that MM increased FC in the executive control, frontal-striatal, and default mode networks. FC was significantly correlated with 5-Hydroxytryptamine 1 A receptor, serotonin transporter, vesicular acetylcholine transporter and dopamine receptors D1 and D2. This study demonstrated that MM was effective in the treatment of IGD-D. MM altered the default mode network, enhanced top-down control, and emotion regulation, and disrupted negative reinforcement mechanisms. These phenomena were supported by the correlation between FC and behavioral as well as biochemical measures, suggesting that MM is a promising therapy for IGD-D.

PMID:41708591 | DOI:10.1038/s41398-026-03837-6

Neurosci Lett. 2026 Feb 16:138545. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2026.138545. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Disruptions in default mode network (DMN) connectivity are well documented in Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet their associations with specific cognitive domains remain unclear. This study examined relationships between anterior and posterior DMN functional connectivity and memory, executive function, and language performance across the AD continuum. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of resting-state fMRI and composite cognitive scores from 154 participants (61 cognitively normal, 68 mild cognitive impairment [MCI], and 25 AD). DMN connectivity metrics were derived from region-of-interest-to-voxel correlations within anterior (aDMN) and posterior (pDMN) subdivisions. Associations between DMN measures and cognitive domains were assessed using multiple linear regression adjusted for age, sex, and years of education, with correction for multiple comparisons. No DMN measure was significantly associated with memory performance in any diagnostic group after correction. In the MCI group, executive and language performance were associated with anterior-posterior DMN connectivity, with weaker coupling linked to poorer performance across these domains. No significant DMN-cognition associations were observed in the cognitively normal or AD groups. After additional adjustment for white matter hyperintensities, only anterior-posterior DMN connectivity remained significantly associated with executive and language performance in the MCI group. Overall, DMN connectivity-cognition relationships were domain-specific and most evident in MCI, supporting the concept of a transitional stage in which network-level functional organization is related to cognitive performance.

PMID:41707903 | DOI:10.1016/j.neulet.2026.138545

J Affect Disord. 2026 Feb 16:121407. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2026.121407. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Suicide is a major cause of mortality in bipolar disorder (BD), yet its neural underpinnings remain insufficiently understood. Suicide risk is thought to involve impaired cognitive-emotional flexibility arising from fundamental disturbances in brain dynamics. This study aimed to test this hypothesis by characterizing the energetic and dynamical constraints underlying suicide vulnerability in BD.

METHODS: We applied energy landscape modeling to resting-state fMRI data from 123 individuals with BD (61 suicide attempters, 62 non-attempters) and 68 healthy controls. Brain activity was modeled as transitions between functional states, enabling quantification of neural rigidity. Group-level comparisons and correlation analyses were conducted to identify attractor stability, transition patterns, and their associations with clinical and cognitive measures.

RESULTS: Four dominant attractor basins were identified. Basins A and D showed progressively reduced appearance frequency and stability from healthy controls to non-attempters and suicide attempters. Increasing suicide risk was associated with greater neural rigidity, reflected in a more constrained transition architecture with shorter and more repetitive transition paths in suicide attempters. Lower stability of basin A was associated with higher suicide risk, with cognitive impairment statistically accounting for part of this association in mediation analyses.

CONCLUSION: Suicide vulnerability in BD is associated with entrenched functional brain states, reduced transition diversity, and elevated energetic constraints that may limit adaptive brain-state reconfiguration. These findings provide a mechanistic account of neural rigidity and suggest that altered brain-state dynamics may serve as a potential biomarker of suicide risk in BD.

PMID:41707727 | DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2026.121407

Neuroimage Clin. 2026 Feb 13;49:103965. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2026.103965. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Children, adolescents, and young adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) frequently experience disruptions in neurodevelopment affecting their executive functioning and other cognitive abilities, which in turn can impact academic performance, psychosocial adjustment, and overall quality of life. This exploratory study aims to investigate the impact of CHD on functional brain network connectivity and cognitive function, with a particular focus on executive functioning. Rather than relying on a single network construction method or arbitrary thresholds, our study methodically employed both weighted networks and binarized networks generated using absolute and proportional thresholding. This cross-method approach enables us to identify functional connectivity features that persist across heuristically and arbitrarily defined parameters, and to evaluate their association with neurocognition. Using resting-state fMRI data, we examined several network metrics across brain regions using three network construction types: weighted networks, absolute-threshold binarized networks, and proportional-threshold binarized networks. Regression models were then fit to neuropsychological test scores using metrics obtained from each network construction approach. Our results identified differences in network connectivity with a predilection for temporal, occipital, and subcortical regions, across both weighted and binarized networks. Furthermore, we identified distinct correlations between network metrics and cognitive performance, suggesting potential compensatory mechanisms within specific brain regions. These results provide an initial, methodologically transparent characterization of altered network organization in CHD and offer directions for future hypothesis-driven investigations.

PMID:41707454 | DOI:10.1016/j.nicl.2026.103965

EBioMedicine. 2025 Nov;121:105986. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2025.105986. Epub 2025 Oct 25.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: KCNQ2-developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (KCNQ2-DEE) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) characterised by early-life seizures but persistent cognitive impairment. The absence of early, quantifiable preclinical biomarkers for neurodevelopmental dysfunction limits the evaluation of new treatments. We hypothesise that key brain maturation processes are altered early in disease development and could serve as biomarkers for neurodevelopmental dysfunction.

METHODS: We performed longitudinal in-vivo brain imaging in 37 kcnq2Thr274Met/+ (KI) mice and 31 wild-type (WT) controls at three developmental stages: infancy (P14-21), juvenile (P32-42), and adulthood (P83-106). Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) assessed functional connectivity (FC), [18F]SynVesT-1 PET measured synaptic density, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) evaluated white and grey matter microstructure. Linear mixed models with Bonferroni correction were used to analyse genotype-by-age interactions across brain regions.

FINDINGS: At infant age, KI mice showed increased FC relative to WT, particularly within the default mode-like network (DMLN). During the juvenile stage, KI mice exhibited modest elevated synaptic density across brain regions, most notably in the cerebellum. By adulthood, KI mice displayed reduced FC, especially within the DMLN, compared to WT. No significant microstructural genotype-by-age interactions were found.

INTERPRETATION: KCNQ2-DEE disrupts neurodevelopment, with early hyperconnectivity and delayed synaptic pruning transitioning to adult hypoconnectivity. While this pattern is too subtle to use as a standalone biomarker, these findings establish a foundation for their use in longitudinal preclinical research targeting early therapeutic intervention.

FUNDING: Supported by the University of Antwerp, Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, the Queen Elisabeth Medical Foundation, the European Joint Programme on Rare Disease, and Fondation Lejeune.

PMID:41705898 | DOI:10.1016/j.ebiom.2025.105986

Neuroimage Rep. 2026 Feb 9;6(1):100327. doi: 10.1016/j.ynirp.2026.100327. eCollection 2026 Mar.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to identify early brain network changes in de novo Parkinson's disease (PD) using resting state-functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rs-fMRI), graph-theoretical analysis, and a functional brain network disruption index (k), applied here for the first time to de novo PD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study enrolled untreated de novo PD patients and age- and sex-matched healthy controls. PD patients underwent comprehensive clinical assessments (MDS-UPDRS III, H&Y, MMSE, MoCA, NMSS). MRI data were acquired on a 3T system, including 3D T1-weighted MPRAGE and rs-fMRI. rs-fMRI data were pre-processed and analysed using graph theory.

RESULTS: The study included 30 de novo PD patients and 30 healthy controls. While global network metrics did not differ significantly, local metrics revealed a reduced disruption index k in de novo PD patients. The disruption index k was negatively correlated with MMSE scores and demonstrated strong discriminatory power between PD patients and healthy controls based on clustering coefficient metrics. Significant differences in hub regions were found, as some disappeared in PD patients while others emerged compared to healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of widespread functional alterations in the local brain networks of de novo Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, suggesting early reorganization of brain connectivity. The disruption index (k) demonstrated the ability to detect early and subtle changes in functional brain networks in de novo Parkinson patients.

SIGNIFICANCE: rs-fMRI can provide valuable insights into the early stages of PD pathophysiology helping to understand the complexity of PD.

PMID:41704899 | PMC:PMC12908061 | DOI:10.1016/j.ynirp.2026.100327

Neuroimage Rep. 2026 Feb 10;6(1):100326. doi: 10.1016/j.ynirp.2026.100326. eCollection 2026 Mar.

ABSTRACT

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition, with ex vivo studies suggesting its neurobiological origin as early as the first and second trimester of pregnancy. Functional MRI studies using graph-theoretical approaches have isolated features in the global connectome architecture that distinguish toddlers with ASD from their typically developing peers. Additionally, functional connectivity patterns in the infant brain have shown to be predictive of later ASD diagnosis. An important yet unexplored question in the literature is whether graph-theoretical differences are evident prior to infancy, in the brain of fetuses who will later exhibit ASD traits in early childhood. In this study, we address this question using a sample of 88 children with both quality-assured fetal brain resting-state functional MRI data and standardized parent assessment of ASD traits including social-emotional and social communication skills and repetitive and restricted behaviors at age 3. Multiple regression analyses revealed no significant associations between fetal global graph features (e.g., network segregation, integration, and small-world architecture) and ASD traits at age 3 (p's > 0.1). Therefore, our findings do not provide support for prenatal emergence of global topographical differences of brain functional organization in fetuses who later develop ASD traits. However, this does not rule out the possibility of other neural signatures in the fetal functional connectome that may predict autistic traits and future ASD diagnosis.

PMID:41704898 | PMC:PMC12908067 | DOI:10.1016/j.ynirp.2026.100326

Front Clin Diabetes Healthc. 2026 Feb 2;7:1665837. doi: 10.3389/fcdhc.2026.1665837. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are widely used for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and may influence reward-related pathways, suggesting potential effects on nicotine dependence and smoking-related outcomes. Randomized evidence in patients with T2DM remains limited. This trial evaluates the effects of GLP-1RAs on nicotine dependence and smoking exposure and explores potential neural mechanisms using functional MRI (fMRI).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This single-center, parallel-group randomized controlled trial will enroll 46 male adults with T2DM who are current smokers with Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) score ≥4. Participants will be randomized (1:1) to receive a GLP-1RA or a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i) for 24 weeks as part of routine glucose-lowering therapy optimization. No structured smoking cessation counseling or smoking cessation pharmacotherapy will be provided by the research team. The primary endpoint is change in FTND score from baseline, assessed at weeks 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24. Secondary endpoints include changes in exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) and smoking cessation rate at weeks 12 and 24, and changes in metabolic parameters. Exploratory endpoints include changes in resting-state fMRI measures from baseline to week 24 and their associations with smoking- and metabolic-related outcomes.

TRIAL STATUS: Recruitment started in June 2025 and is ongoing.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier (NCT06924697).

PMID:41704542 | PMC:PMC12907205 | DOI:10.3389/fcdhc.2026.1665837

Eur J Neurosci. 2026 Feb;63(4):e70430. doi: 10.1111/ejn.70430.

ABSTRACT

Previous neuroimaging studies have revealed abnormal functional activity in multiple brain regions among individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, due to the heterogeneity in study designs, these findings lack consistency, leaving the core neuropathological mechanisms of AUD unclear to date. To address this, we conducted a quantitative whole-brain meta-analysis of relevant resting-state functional imaging data to identify persistent brain region characteristics in individuals with AUD. A systematic literature search was conducted across six databases from their inception to August 8, 2025. Subsequently, a meta-analysis employing the anomaly effect size-marked difference mapping (AES-SDM) method was performed to identify abnormal brain activity patterns in patients with AUD. This was supplemented by jackknife sensitivity analysis, heterogeneity testing, publication bias assessment, subgroup analysis, and meta-regression analysis. The results showed that a total of 16 articles (20 datasets) were included, involving 520 patients with AUD and 523 healthy controls (HCs). SDM meta-analysis revealed enhanced functional activity in the right pars opercularis of the inferior frontal gyrus of AUD patients compared to healthy controls, while reduced functional activity was observed in the bilateral postcentral gyrus and left precuneus. Sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses demonstrated high robustness across all regions. Meta-regression analysis indicated that reduced activity in the left posterior central gyrus was significantly correlated with AUD severity and moderated by age. This study shows AUD patients have abnormal activity in brain regions linked to sensory processing, emotional regulation, and self-awareness, offering comprehensive insights into AUD's neuropathology.

PMID:41704208 | DOI:10.1111/ejn.70430

Schizophrenia (Heidelb). 2026 Feb 17. doi: 10.1038/s41537-026-00736-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Resting-state fMRI studies consistently demonstrate widespread dysconnectivity in schizophrenia (SZ), yet conventional analytic methods often fail to account for individual variability in functional brain organization. This study utilized individualized assessments of network size and topography to examine functional alterations in early psychosis. MRI data were drawn from the Human Connectome Project - Early Psychosis study (ages 18-34), including 86 individuals with non-affective psychosis (NAP) and 57 healthy controls (HC). Ten large-scale functional networks were delineated using template-matching procedures. Group differences in network size were evaluated using ANOVA, while network topography was examined with vertex-wise chi-square analyses and the Topographic Abnormality Index (TAI). Compared to controls, NAP participants showed significantly larger dorsal attention (DAN) and default mode (DMN) networks, along with a smaller sensorimotor-body (SBN) network (effect sizes d = 0.39-0.48). NAP also exhibited greater topographic abnormalities in the DAN, DMN, and cingulo-opercular (CON) networks. DMN size was inversely related to mania symptoms, antipsychotic treatment duration, and working memory performance, while smaller SBN size was also linked to reduced working memory. A k-means clustering revealed three psychosis biotypes. Biotype 1 had enlarged DAN and language network size, with higher antipsychotic exposure. Biotype 2 showed near-normal network profiles but elevated mood symptoms. Biotype 3 exhibited enlarged DMN/DAN and reduced frontoparietal network size, with prominent negative symptoms. Consistent with prior schizophrenia studies, DAN enlargement was present in early psychosis, suggesting stability across illness stages. Altered DAN and DMN organization may serve as early biomarkers to guide detection and intervention strategies.

PMID:41702896 | DOI:10.1038/s41537-026-00736-z

Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2026 Feb 17:nsag010. doi: 10.1093/scan/nsag010. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the relationship between gestational age (GA) and resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in a cohort of very preterm children at school age, and how these neural patterns relate to cognitive and theory of mind (ToM) performance. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were collected from 52 children (GA < 32 weeks, birth weight <1500 g) and independent component analysis was applied to extract the resting-state networks. Results showed that GA was positively associated with rsFC of the precuneus and the paracentral region within the left posterior cerebellar network (lpCER), while negatively associated with rsFC of the insula and putamen within the anterior default mode network (DMN), and with rsFC of the postcentral gyrus within the right frontoparietal network (rFPN). Cognitive and neuropsychological assessments revealed that increased connectivity involving the lpCER correlated with better verbal comprehension, visuospatial ability, fluid reasoning, working memory, and ToM performance. Conversely, increased aDMN connectivity was associated with lower working memory and decreased rFPN connectivity was found associated with lower intelligence quotient. These results underscore the influence of GA on intrinsic brain networks supporting cognitive and socio-cognitive functions, and highlight potential neural markers that could inform targeted intervention strategies for preterm children.

PMID:41702370 | DOI:10.1093/scan/nsag010

IEEE J Biomed Health Inform. 2026 Feb 17;PP. doi: 10.1109/JBHI.2026.3665521. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Integrating resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and phenotypic data is a promising way to build a comprehensive population graph for the prediction of brain disorders using graph neural networks (GNNs). However, existing GNN-based methods face two limitations: the complexity of relationships between subjects poses challenges in constructing a well-defined population graph, and the inherent node heterophily within the population graph is often overlooked. To address them, we propose a population graph with a phenotypic encoder, which leverages rs-fMRI and phenotypic data to model complex relationships between subjects and enables GNN to learn population-level features. We also design a heterophily-aware spectral graph convolution network that incorporates local similarity-based learning to assess node homophily and addresses the heterophily issue. Experiments demonstrate that our method performs well in classifying both Alzheimer's Disease and Autism Spectrum Disorder. In addition, it can distinguish between progressive and stable mild cognitive impairment, facilitating timely interventions for the diseases.

PMID:41701587 | DOI:10.1109/JBHI.2026.3665521

Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2026 Feb 17. doi: 10.1097/EJA.0000000000002365. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a detrimental complication after surgery with lasting impact on patients' daily lives. It is most common after postoperative delirium. While dopaminergic dysfunction has been suggested to play a role in delirium, little knowledge exists regarding its relevance for POCD.

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesised that POCD is associated with altered resting-state functional connectivity (FC) of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

SETTING: Tertiary care centre, Germany.

PATIENTS: Patients aged at least 65 years with a Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) at least 24 points presenting for elective major surgery were eligible for this study. Of 747 included patients, 214 patients with POCD assessment and at least one preoperative fMRI dataset were analysed.

INVESTIGATIONS: Resting-state fMRI and neuropsychological assessment before surgery and at follow-up 3 months later.

MAIN OUTCOME: POCD after 3 months after surgery was determined as the Reliable Change Index (RCI). Connectivity between VTA or SNc and 132 regions was calculated.

RESULTS: Twenty-six patients (12%) developed POCD. Four components for VTA-FC and SNc-FC were selected for further analysis with principal component analysis. For both VTA and SNc connectivity, one component was significantly associated with POCD. Postoperative alterations of dopaminergic networks were observed in an exploratory voxelwise analysis in a left temporal cluster.

CONCLUSION: Higher dopaminergic connectivity to regions associated with spatial perceptive processes and lower connectivity to cognitive control-related areas may predispose to POCD.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02265263.

PMID:41699935 | DOI:10.1097/EJA.0000000000002365

Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2026 Feb 16. doi: 10.1186/s12991-026-00638-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease frequently comorbid with depression, yet the underlying neurobiological mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated functional connectivity (FC) alterations of emotion-regulation circuits and their association with inflammatory markers in psoriasis patients with depression.

METHODS: Seventeen psoriasis patients with depression and 17 matched controls underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) examination. Seed-based FC analysis was performed to examine connectivity abnormalities of the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC), a key emotional regulation region, with the following statistical thresholds: voxel-level p < 0.001 (uncorrected) with cluster-level false discovery rate (FDR) correction at p < 0.05 for multiple comparisons. Correlation analyses were conducted to evaluate relationships between sgACC connectivity patterns and depression severity (Self-rating Depression Scale, SDS), pruritus intensity (Visual Analog Scale, VAS), and serum levels of IL-6 and IL-17 in a subgroup of participants (n = 7).

RESULTS: Psoriasis patients with depression showed increased sgACC connectivity with DMN nodes (posterior cingulate cortex(PCC), angular gyrus(AG)) and executive network regions (superior frontal gyrus (SFG), middle frontal gyrus (MFG)) versus controls. FC between sgACC-AG correlated with SDS scores (r = 0.598, p = 0.011), while sgACC with right SFG (r = 0.893, p = 0.007) and left MFG (r = 0.929, p = 0.003) connectivity positively associated with IL-17 levels.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings reveal a "dual-circuit" dysfunction pattern in psoriatic depression: sgACC-DMN hyperconnectivity linked to depressive symptoms, and sgACC-dlPFC (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) alterations associated with IL-17 elevation. These results establish the sgACC as a neural hub bridging inflammation and mood dysregulation, supporting the "skin-brain axis" hypothesis. The identified FC patterns may serve as biomarkers for targeted interventions in inflammation-related depression.

PMID:41699678 | DOI:10.1186/s12991-026-00638-5

Neuroimage. 2026 Feb 14:121810. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121810. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pathway-specific structure-function coupling induced by focal subcortical infarction and its influence on clinical symptoms.

METHODS: In this prospective study, 50 patients with unilateral subcortical infarction and motor impairment and 50 matched controls underwent resting state fMRI, DTI, and Fugl-Meyer-Assessment lower-extremity (FMA-LE) at 7-14- and 30-days post-infarction. To analyze the pathway-specific structure-function coupling, we evaluated the association between structural integrity of the corticospinal tract (CST), dentate thalamocortical tract (DTCT), cortico-pontocerebellar tract (CPCT), and dorsal spinocerebellar tract (DSCT) and functional connectivity (FC) of corresponding subregions. Moderation analysis assesses whether the structure-function coupling pathway moderates FMA-LE.

RESULTS: At baseline, patients exhibited significantly lower structural integrity of DTCT, DSCT, and CST than controls. We found structure-function couplings in the three motor pathways of the cerebro-cerebellar circuit: (1) contralesional thalamus to ipsilesional cerebellum-crus_2 with dentate thalamocortical tract (DTCT), (2) contralesional thalamus to cerebellum vermis_10 with dorsal spinocerebellar tract (DSCT), (3) ipsilesional precentral gyrus to frontal medial gyrus with CST. The baseline DSCT structural integrity specificity modulates the relationship between FC and FMA-LE over 30 days.

CONCLUSIONS: We observed that cerebro-cerebellar circuit structure-function coupling after infarction, based on its anatomy and mapped to motor function (with DSCT as the key pathway mediating/moderating prognosis), serves as a potent biomarker for lower limb prognosis and a basis for precise rehabilitation.

PMID:41698490 | DOI:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121810

Front Neurosci. 2026 Jan 30;19:1622756. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2025.1622756. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Postmenopausal women exhibit heightened vulnerability to chronic insomnia due to estrogen decline and age-related neural alterations. While non-pharmacological interventions are preferred for long-term management, the neuroplastic mechanisms underlying exercise-based therapies remain poorly characterized.

METHODS: This study examines the effects of Eight-Section Vajra Exercise (ESVE) on brain structure and function in postmenopausal women with insomnia (PMWI) using multimodal MRI. A 12-week ESVE training program was completed by PMWI patients, followed by clinical assessments (PSQI, ISI, PHQ-9, GAD-7, FSS, MoCA) and neuroimaging (fMRI and structural MRI). Data analysis involved gray matter volume (GMV), ALFF/fALFF, ReHo, degree centrality (DC), and functional connectivity (FC) using advanced MRI processing techniques (CAT12, SPM12, DPABI). Group comparisons and correlations were adjusted for age, education, and intracranial volume.

RESULT: Among the 24 PMWI patients and 30 healthy controls (HCs), baseline measures showed significantly worse sleep and mood scores in PMWI. Resting-state fMRI revealed reduced ALFF/fALFF in the right precentral gyrus and decreased ReHo in sensorimotor areas. Changes in functional connectivity (FC) were noted, with altered connections between precentral gyrus, temporal and parietal regions. After 12 weeks of ESVE, 78.95% of PMWI patients were medication-free, with post-treatment fMRI showing improved neural activity and connectivity, correlating with clinical improvement. Exercise adherence positively correlated with sleep quality improvement (r = 0.508-0.594, P < 0.05). Responders showed significant improvements in sleep compared to non-responders (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: ESVE alleviates postmenopausal insomnia through PreCG-centered sensorimotor-visual network reorganization, potentially compensating for estrogen-dependent neurocircuitry vulnerabilities. Exercise-induced GMV increases in occipitotemporal regions suggest enhanced sleep-related memory consolidation. Our findings indicate that ESVE is a potential neuromodulatory intervention and identify PreCG-MOG connectivity as a promising biomarker for personalized insomnia management.

PMID:41694716 | PMC:PMC12901484 | DOI:10.3389/fnins.2025.1622756

Pain Rep. 2026 Feb 11;11(2):e1368. doi: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001368. eCollection 2026 Apr.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: High-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) allows the mapping of functional organization of intraspinal circuits. This study aimed to identify nociceptive heat processing regions within the gray matter of the lumbar spinal cords and delineate their functional organization using task and resting-state fMRI in rats under anesthesia.

METHODS: High-resolution fMRI BOLD data were acquired from L3-L5 spinal segments during noxious heat (47.5°C) stimulation of the left hind paw and at rest at 9.4T MRI.

RESULTS: Noxious heat-elicited BOLD signal increases were detected at deep layers of dorsal horns and intermediate zone within the rostral lumbar enlargement (L3) and deep layers of the ipsilateral dorsal horn in lumbar segment L4. Resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) analysis revealed the strongest rsFC strengths between dorsal-dorsal and ventral-ventral horns within each lumbar segment. No significant rsFC was found between the horns in different segments.

CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that lumbar enlargement (L3 and L4) was involved in processing heat nociceptive information and bilateral dorsal and ventral horns were strongly interconnected at rest. We hypothesize that the intermediate zone in the rostral subsegment of L3 serves as a modulation center for nociceptive processing within the lumbar cord.

PMID:41694551 | PMC:PMC12900226 | DOI:10.1097/PR9.0000000000001368

Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2026 Feb 12;16:20451253251406059. doi: 10.1177/20451253251406059. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Ketamine, a well-established antidepressant and dissociative anesthetic, is also used recreationally in the club and chemsex scene. Survey and qualitative data suggest that while ketamine facilitates chemsex encounters, it diminishes the intensity of the sexual experience.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate this phenomenon from a neuroscientific perspective while considering ketamine's sex-specific effects.

DESIGN: Two randomized, placebo-controlled crossover studies using intranasal S-ketamine (double-blinded) or intravenous racemic ketamine (single-blinded).

METHODS: Subjective sexual arousal in response to a newly compiled set of erotic stimuli was assessed following subacute S-ketamine and late racemic ketamine administration across two studies. Overall, 67 healthy volunteers (26 females) participated in the studies. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed during sexual arousal assessment under late racemic ketamine exposure, with both studies also incorporating resting-state fMRI assessments.

RESULTS: Subacute S-ketamine reduced sexual arousal to heterosexual stimuli in women (β = -0.21, CI95 = (-0.36, -0.06)) and, to a lesser extent, to lesbian stimuli in men (β = -0.16, CI95 = (0.003, -0.33)). It also diminished sexual aversion to gay stimuli in both sexes (β ⩾ 0.18, CI95 ⩾ (0.03, 0.32)). Conversely, late racemic ketamine decreased sexual arousal to heterosexual stimuli in men (β = -0.17, CI95 = (-0.31, -0.02)) while exacerbating sexual aversion to gay stimuli in women (β = -0.24, CI95=(-0.36,-0.12)). Furthermore, late ketamine administration resulted in reduced calcarine gyrus activation in men compared to women, independent of sexual arousal (β ⩽ -0.23, CI95 ⩽ (-0.52, 0.05)). This finding was confirmed for resting activity under subacute ketamine (β = -0.18, CI95 = (-0.32, -0.04)).

CONCLUSION: Our results align with reports of diminished sexual arousal under ketamine, while the reduced sexual aversion may play a role in facilitating chemsex. The heightened sexual aversion in women and the distinct calcarine gyrus activity modulation may relate to previously documented sex-dependent ketamine effects on stress resilience and psychosis-like symptoms.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Both studies were registered at clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05320120 (2022-04-08), NCT05320107 (2022-04-08).

PMID:41693798 | PMC:PMC12901892 | DOI:10.1177/20451253251406059