Most recent paper

J Affect Disord. 2026 Mar 21:121660. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2026.121660. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Temporal interference stimulation (TIS) enables selective modulation of deep-brain targets without cortical activation, yet its therapeutic utility in major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unknown. Therefore, this multicenter, randomized controlled trial evaluated right-amygdala targeted TIS for MDD and identified predictors of treatment response.

METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial. Seventy-six MDD patients were enrolled across Tianjin Anding Hospital and Shanghai Ruijin Hospital and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to active or sham groups. Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) and 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) assessments were obtained at baseline, and clinical outcomes were evaluated at weeks 3 and 8. Within the active group, patients were categorized as responders or nonresponders based on week-8 HDRS-17 outcomes. Baseline amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) was compared between groups using two-sample t-tests. Associations between the identified regions and symptom improvement were examined using partial correlations. Logistic regression and ROC analyses were used to evaluate the predictive value of baseline ALFF measures for treatment response. The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06477276.

RESULTS: 14 patients (44%) responded to active TIS. Responders showed significantly lower baseline ALFF in the right lingual gyrus (GRF voxel p < 0.001, cluster p < 0.05, one-tailed). Right lingual gyrus ALFF was negatively correlated with HDRS-17 improvement (r = -0.696, p < 0.001). Logistic regression confirmed its predictive value (Model 1: OR = 0.016, 95% CI = 0.000 to 0.915, p = 0.045; Model 2 adjusted for age: OR = 0.000, 95% CI = 0.000 to 0.125, p = 0.011). ROC analysis yielded an AUC of 0.714 (p = 0.040, 95% CI = 0.550 to 0.893).

CONCLUSION: Right-amygdala TIS improves depressive symptoms, and lower baseline right lingual gyrus ALFF emerged as a promising biomarker for predicting response.

PMID:41871633 | DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2026.121660

Front Psychiatry. 2026 Mar 5;17:1771679. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1771679. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Depression is a prevalent non-motor symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD), yet its pathogenesis is unclear and biomarkers are lacking. This rs-fMRI study used Regional Homogeneity (ReHo) to explore neural correlates in PD with depression (DPD).

METHODS: We included 23 DPD, 24 non-depressed PD (NDPD), and 20 healthy controls (HC). ReHo analysis was applied to identify regional brain activity differences. Correlations between ReHo values and depression severity (HAMD scores) were examined. ROC analysis assessed the diagnostic utility of ReHo changes.

RESULTS: Compared to NDPD, DPD showed increased ReHo in the left inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) and decreased ReHo in the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG), left insula, and left hippocampus. ReHo in left ITG positively correlated with HAMD scores (r = 0.4347, P = 0.0023), while right MFG (r = -0.5262, P = 0.0001), left insula, and left hippocampus (r = -0.4049, P = 0.0048) showed negative correlations. ROC analysis indicated that ReHo in the left insula and hippocampus could distinguish DPD (AUC = 0.8062).

CONCLUSION: DPD is associated with distinct ReHo alterations. Abnormalities in the left ITG, right MFG, left insula, and left hippocampus may reflect the neural basis of DPD. Our exploratory analyses suggest that altered ReHo in the left insula and left hippocampus may hold potential as neuroimaging biomarkers.

PMID:41868838 | PMC:PMC12999784 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1771679

Front Aging Neurosci. 2026 Mar 5;18:1721346. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2026.1721346. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Emerging research suggests virtual reality (VR) techniques hold promise for mitigating cognitive decline in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Furthermore, accumulating evidence indicates that gut dysbiosis is a key factor associated with cognitive impairment. This study aims to determine whether a novel virtual reality-integrated multi-modal intervention can beneficially modulate the brain-gut axis in individuals with MCI.

METHODS: This study is a randomized single-blind controlled trial that will include 66 older adults with MCI from the community. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention group or the waitlist group. The intervention group will complete 36 sessions (three sessions per week for 12 weeks) consisting of virtual reality cognitive training (VRCT), traditional cognitive training (TCT), and physical exercise (PE). The control group will not receive any intervention during the study period. The primary outcome is the change in a memory-weighted cognitive composite score. Exploratory outcomes: mechanistic changes along the brain-gut axis, including: (1) Changes in gut microbiota alpha/beta diversity and composition assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, (2) Changes in resting-state brain activity and functional connectivity assessed by fMRI. Outcome measures will be assessed at three or four time points: baseline, mid-intervention (Week 6), post-intervention (Week 12), and at a 12-week follow-up (Week 24).

EXPECTED OUTCOMES: We hypothesize that, relative to the waitlist control, the intervention group will demonstrate concurrent improvements in cognitive performance and a shift in gut microbiota composition toward a more favorable profile, thereby providing preliminary evidence for modulation of the brain-gut axis.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: [www.chictr.org.cn], identifier [ChiCTR2400093397].

PMID:41868429 | PMC:PMC12999948 | DOI:10.3389/fnagi.2026.1721346

Med Image Comput Comput Assist Interv. 2026;15961:3-12. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-04937-7_1. Epub 2025 Sep 20.

ABSTRACT

The development of a computational framework that can infer large-scale brain-wide effective connectivity (EC) based on resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) represents a grand challenge to computational neuroimaging. Towards the goal of estimating full-scale, whole-brain EC, we developed a new computational framework termed Large-scale nEural Model Inversion (LEMI) by utilizing a linear neural mass model with an efficient Kalman-filter based gradient descent algorithm. Key advantages of LEMI include fast estimation of both intra-regional and inter-regional connection strengths for large-scale networks, allowing exploration of both intrinsic and external mechanisms in neuroscience problems. Using ground-truth simulations, we demonstrated that LEMI can accurately and efficiently recover model parameters in a large network (100 regions) within 90 minutes. We then applied the LEMI model to an empirical rs-fMRI dataset from the ADNI database and identified widespread reduced excitation-inhibition (E-I) ratio in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Overall, LEMI provides an efficient and accurate computational framework to estimate large-scale EC and whole-brain E-I balance based on non-invasive neuroimaging data.

PMID:41867361 | PMC:PMC13004605 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-04937-7_1

Hum Brain Mapp. 2026 Apr 1;47(5):e70506. doi: 10.1002/hbm.70506.

ABSTRACT

The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and its related measure, fractional ALFF (fALFF), are widely used resting-state fMRI techniques for quantifying spontaneous neural activity within specific frequency bands. However, inconsistencies in the definition and implementation of ALFF have led to confusion in the field. In this study, we provide a mathematical clarification of ALFF and fALFF by introducing two variants: the arithmetic mean-defined ALFF/fALFF (amALFF/amfALFF) and the quadratic mean-defined ALFF/fALFF (qmALFF/qmfALFF). We examine the relationships between mean BOLD intensity (MBI), amALFF, and qmALFF across both subjects and voxels using two independent datasets mapped onto different brain templates. Additionally, we investigate the impact of z-scoring the original BOLD signal on ALFF and fALFF metrics. Finally, we evaluate the validity and test-retest reliability of (f)ALFF using a dataset with two runs at voxel, parcellation, and cortical level. Our key findings include: (1) MBI is positively correlated with both amALFF and qmALFF, highlighting the need for normalization to subject-level means; (2) normalized qmALFF and qmfALFF are highly correlated with normalized amALFF and amfALFF, respectively, at both the subject and voxel levels; (3) z-scoring the BOLD signal does not affect amfALFF or qmfALFF, but it substantially alters amALFF and qmALFF; (4) ALFF exhibits higher reliability than fALFF and both perform best at the parcellation level compared to voxel and cortical (subject) levels. Based on these findings, we present a comprehensive flowchart of the (f)ALFF algorithm implemented in the temporal domain. The full procedure is implemented in R, and the corresponding script is available at: https://github.com/lejianhuang/ALFF.

PMID:41867070 | DOI:10.1002/hbm.70506

Hum Brain Mapp. 2026 Apr 1;47(5):e70498. doi: 10.1002/hbm.70498.

ABSTRACT

Face and scene perception rely on distinct neural networks centered on the Fusiform Face Area (FFA) and Parahippocampal Place Area (PPA). However, how these regions interact with broader brain networks remains unclear. Using resting-state fMRI and MEG data, we mapped the spatial and frequency-specific functional connectivity of the FFA and PPA. We found that the FFA showed predominant fMRI connectivity with lateral occipitotemporal, inferior temporal, and temporoparietal regions, while the PPA connected more strongly with ventral medial visual, posterior cingulate, and entorhinal-perirhinal areas. MEG analyses further revealed this network segregation was reflected in beta and gamma bands. Importantly, connectome-based predictive modeling showed that the strength of these intrinsic fMRI connectivity patterns predicted individual reaction times on corresponding face and scene perception tasks. Our findings demonstrate that the FFA and PPA anchor distinct intrinsic networks with unique spatio-temporal profiles that provide a functional architecture supporting their specialized roles in face and scene perception.

PMID:41867056 | DOI:10.1002/hbm.70498

Brain Imaging Behav. 2026 Mar 23;20(2):59. doi: 10.1007/s11682-026-01138-6.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41866633 | DOI:10.1007/s11682-026-01138-6

Neuroimage. 2026 Mar 20:121872. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121872. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive ataxia and multisystem manifestations resulting from involvement of the peripheral and central nervous systems. While regional atrophy is known to be associated with symptoms, functional network alterations may represent a critical pathological mechanism; however, their specific contribution to motor and cognitive impairment remains unclear. We combined T1-weighted anatomical MRI and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) in 37 individuals with FRDA and 41 age- and sex-matched healthy controls and explored how functional connectivity differences are related to atrophy, clinical severity and cognitive performance. Regional volumes were quantified using morphometry analyses, spontaneous rs-fMRI activity was assessed via amplitudes of low-frequency fluctuations, and functional co-activation was evaluated among regions showing structural and neuronal activity alterations. Volume reductions were most pronounced in the brainstem, cerebellar white matter, hemisphere of lobules VI, X, and thalamus. Functionally, individuals with FRDA showed decreased fronto-cerebellar connectivity alongside increased intracerebellar, thalamo-striatal, and hippocampal-cerebellar coupling. Infratentorial and thalamic volume loss correlated strongly with clinical disease severity, whereas reduced frontal co-activation with cerebellar lobules VI, Crus I and II was moderately associated with poorer motor and cognitive performance. In contrast, increased intracerebellar and hippocampal-cerebellar coupling was observed particularly in individuals with more advanced disease and was partly associated with better cognitive outcomes. These findings indicate widespread disruptions of long-range cerebro-cerebellar connectivity together with increased intraregional coupling and potential network reorganization, underscoring the importance of network-level mechanisms for understanding clinical heterogeneity in FRDA and guiding future prognostic and therapeutic studies.

PMID:41865916 | DOI:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121872

Brain Res Bull. 2026 Mar 20:111836. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2026.111836. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Maternal antenatal psychological distress can negatively affect child development, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where women are at heightened risk for distress. This study examined the association between maternal antenatal distress and child amygdala-prefrontal cortex functional connectivity in a South African birth cohort using resting-state fMRI. Children aged 2-3 years who were either exposed to maternal distress in utero (n=27) or unexposed (n=85) were analyzed using region-of-interest analysis. Multivariate analysis of covariance assessed group differences, adjusting for confounders, and Pearson correlations examined associations with externalizing behaviors 6-18 months later across the whole sample (n=111). Exposed children showed weaker amygdala-medial PFC and amygdala-lateral PFC connectivity than unexposed peers (medial PFC: mean=0.099 vs 0.164, p=0.034; lateral PFC: mean=0.095 vs 0.132, p=0.025). These differences were significant in boys only (medial PFC: p=0.016; lateral PFC: p=0.019). Additionally, hippocampus-PFC connectivity at ages 2-3 was negatively associated with later externalizing behaviors. Findings suggest exposure to maternal psychological distress in utero impacts amygdala-PFC connectivity in early childhood, while exploratory associations between hippocampus-PFC and externalizing behavior point to potential links with later behavioral outcomes. Understanding these neural correlates may inform early interventions to disrupt intergenerational transmission of psychological risk.

PMID:41865903 | DOI:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2026.111836

J Psychiatr Res. 2026 Mar 19;198:47-57. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2026.03.021. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Childhood trauma (CT) increases risk for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and is linked to alterations in several brain regions. However, it remains unclear whether CT is associated with network-level resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) alterations in adults with AUD, and whether trauma subtypes show dissociable neural signatures. We examined associations between cumulative and subtype-specific CT exposure and amygdala- and insula-seeded rs-FC in adults with AUD versus healthy controls (HC).

METHODS: The sample included 214 adults (120 with AUD; 94 HC) who underwent resting-state fMRI and comprehensive clinical assessment. CT exposure was retrospectively assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Whole-brain seed-to-voxel rs-FC analyses were conducted using bilateral amygdala and insula seeds to probe connectivity with large-scale brain networks. Linear mixed-effects models tested interactions between diagnostic group (AUD vs. HC) and CT exposure (total CTQ score and exploratory subtype scores).

RESULTS: Greater cumulative CT exposure was associated with weaker amygdala- and insula-centered rs-FC in AUD relative to HC. The most consistent effects involved reduced connectivity between these seeds-core nodes of the fronto-limbic and salience networks-and regions within the default mode network (DMN) and ventral visual stream. Exploratory CT subtype analyses (emotional abuse, emotional neglect, physical neglect) revealed largely overlapping rs-FC patterns.

CONCLUSIONS: CT is associated with a distinct pattern of network-level hypoconnectivity in adults with AUD, affecting circuits relevant to emotion regulation, memory, and socio-affective visual processing. The convergence of subtype-specific findings likely reflects high polytraumatization and widespread AUD-related network disruption and should be further investigated in future studies.

PMID:41865717 | DOI:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2026.03.021

Neuroimage. 2026 Mar 20:121870. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121870. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Chronic bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) occurs preferably in elderly patients presenting with postural imbalance and head movement induced oscillopsia. The condition is often incomplete with residual functions in both ears. Beyond the vestibular reflexive deficits, an impairment of spatial orientation and navigation has been described associated with an atrophy of the hippocampal formation. However, this finding was inconsistent in various studies on rodents and humans. In the current MRI study on 15 BVP patients and 15 healthy controls (HC) we combined analyses of whole brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and the resting state fMRI (rs-fMRI) on the widely distributed multisensory vestibular network and its connections to sensorimotor, cognitive, and emotional networks at rest. Major results were gray and white matter changes in conjunction with rs-fMRI changes: the left posterior insula, angular and supramarginal gyri, and left premotor cortex; as well as bilateral anterior hippocampal formation and adjacent amygdala; visual cortex V1 and V5; thalamus; prefrontal cortex; cerebellar hemispheres and uvula; and pyramidal tract. Thus, the overlap of structural (VBM) and rs-fMRI including various correlation analyses disclosed that a bilateral reduction of peripheral vestibular input affects multiple networks from the cerebellum up to the cortical hemispheres. A possible functional interpretation is that the observed specific alterations reflect compensation and substitution by other networks - handling perception, sensorimotor balance regulation, cognition, and emotions - due to deficits in one sensory system. This is consistent with anterior hippocampal atrophy's role in spatial memory deficits, as well as the involvement of the cerebellum, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex in emotional processes. It also aligns with the top-down regulation by the prefrontal cortex via the pyramidal tract for cognitive control of balance triggered by the perception of postural instability. Further, correlation analyses support this interpretation because most morphological changes were dependent on the duration of the condition.

PMID:41865915 | DOI:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121870

J Affect Disord. 2026 Mar 19:121653. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2026.121653. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Anhedonia is a core transdiagnostic symptom across diverse psychiatric disorders, yet its neural mechanisms across multiple biological scales remain unclear. In this study, we aim to explore the neural circuit patterns and molecular genetic foundations of anhedonia by integrating multimodal neuroimaging and transcriptomic data.

METHODS: We used publicly available resting-state fMRI data from a transdiagnostic cohort (N = 213; comprising healthy controls and patients with diverse affective and psychotic disorders), with anhedonia assessed using the Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS). First, we applied connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM) to derive macroscale functional network patterns predictive of distinct anhedonia dimensions (anticipatory vs. consummatory). Next, the predictive performance and generalizability of these models were evaluated in an independent transdiagnostic cohort (N = 247). Finally, we linked the anhedonia-related connectome pattern (ARCP) to PET-derived neurotransmitter receptor/transporter maps and AHBA gene-expression profiles via spatial correspondence analyses.

RESULTS: CPM robustly predicted anhedonia across diagnostic categories, supporting the "neurobiological continuum" hypothesis of anhedonia. ARCP were distributed across the default mode (DMN), salience (SN), sensorimotor (Som/Mot), and limbic networks. At the edge level, cross-network connections between DMN and Som/Mot constituted the core transdiagnostic feature. Spatial correspondence analyses linked to DRD2 receptor density and gene expression profiles enriched in dopaminergic signaling and autophagy pathways.

CONCLUSIONS: We establish a multi-level framework for transdiagnostic anhedonia by linking macroscale connectome aberrations to genetic and receptor-level disruptions. Together, these multi-scale insights advance the transdiagnostic continuum model and offer a promising neurobiological basis for precision psychiatry.

PMID:41864356 | DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2026.121653

J Affect Disord. 2026 Mar 19:121644. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2026.121644. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterised by pervasive cognitive deficits, pointing to atypical organisation of large-scale functional brain networks. While such network abnormalities have been extensively documented in resting-state and task-based neuroimaging studies, far less is known about how the OCD brain dynamically reconfigures in response to naturalistic, context-rich stimuli. Here, we combined a naturalistic movie-watching paradigm with a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) to investigate the temporal evolution of brain network states under conditions that more closely approximate real-world cognitive demands. Eighty participants (35 with OCD and 45 healthy controls) underwent fMRI scanning during pre-movie rest, movie viewing, and post-movie rest. The HMM identified 14 distinct brain states, and group differences in their temporal properties were quantified using fractional occupancy, dwell time, and transition probability. While brain dynamics during movie watching were largely comparable across groups, marked abnormalities emerged in OCD during the post-watching resting state, including sustained activation of the default mode (DMN), salience (SAL), and executive control (EXEC) networks, alongside inflexible and dispersed state transitions. These altered dynamics were further associated with specific OCD symptom dimensions. Taken together, the findings suggest that context-dependent rigidity in DMN-SAL-EXEC dynamics may constitute a core neural mechanism of OCD and highlight potential intervention targets aimed at restoring flexible state transitions and adaptive network reconfiguration.

PMID:41864348 | DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2026.121644

Dev Cogn Neurosci. 2026 Mar 15;79:101711. doi: 10.1016/j.dcn.2026.101711. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Abnormal functional brain development associated with preterm birth has been widely reported; however, the functional brain architectures of later neurodevelopmental difficulties are not yet fully understood. Here, we applied connectome-based predictive modeling approaches to identify the brain networks associated with later neurocognitive scores at 2-3 years of age in very preterm infants (≤31 weeks' gestation, N = 79) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). The whole-brain functional connectome soon after birth successfully predicted verbal ability at 3 years of corrected age (r = 0.53, p=4.04x10-7) and motor ability at age 2 (r = 0.39, p=0.0004) in very preterm infants. In particular, we found that functional edges between the frontoparietal network and limbic, motor, and medial frontal networks at birth contributed significantly to the prediction of future verbal language ability, while the edges connecting the medial frontal network and motor and basal ganglia networks contributed the most to the prediction of future motor ability. In a separate validation analysis, we demonstrated that the mean connectivity strength among these top brain networks significantly differentiated (average accuracy 76%, p < 0.001) poor from normal performers at 2 and 3 years of age. These findings highlight regional functional connectivity soon after birth as a promising biomarker for identifying risks for later brain disorders, which could inform the targeted development of effective early treatments and interventions.

PMID:41863864 | DOI:10.1016/j.dcn.2026.101711

J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2026 Mar 21:271678X261431447. doi: 10.1177/0271678X261431447. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We investigated ketamine's neuroplastic effects in healthy human subjects using integrated Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) measures before and 1-8 days after a single psychedelic dose of ketamine (1 mg/kg, intravenous). Eleven male participants underwent two PET/MRI scans with [11C]-UCBJ (synaptic density/plasticity), 1H-MRS (glutamate and GABA) and resting-state fMRI (intrinsic brain activity, functional connectivity), before and after ketamine. While group-level analyses showed no significant increases in PET synaptic markers, ketamine administration resulted in significantly elevated glutamate levels within the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Functional connectivity analyses revealed reduced coupling between the ACC and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and increased coupling between the ACC and the amygdala in the days following ketamine administration. Our multimodal analysis revealed that participants showing an increase in [11C]-UCBJ volume distribution (VT), a putative index of synaptic plasticity, showed a correlated reduction in intrinsic activity within regions belonging to the default mode network (DMN). By linking molecular, cellular and network-level changes, our results point to the DMN as a central hub where ketamine may reshape brain hierarchies in the long term, providing new directions for understanding its therapeutic mechanisms and developing targeted treatments.

PMID:41863255 | DOI:10.1177/0271678X261431447

BMC Psychol. 2026 Mar 20;14(1):371. doi: 10.1186/s40359-026-04063-x.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41863001 | DOI:10.1186/s40359-026-04063-x

Behav Brain Res. 2026 Mar 18:116168. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116168. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adolescents exhibits distinct patterns of brain functional alterations compared to adults and may be more susceptible to the influences of perceived parental rearing patterns. However, the specific neural correlations underlying the link between perceived parental rearing patterns and adolescent OCD remain unclear. In this exploratory study, thirty adolescents with OCD and thirty demographically matched healthy controls were recruited and underwent clinical interview and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans to assess functional alterations and their potential correlations with perceived parental rearing patterns. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) analysis revealed decreased ReHo in the parieto-occipital regions and increased ReHo in the right temporal lobe in the OCD group. Seed-based resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) analysis using ReHo-defined seeds revealed hypoconnectivity between the left precuneus and several frontal and parietal regions. These functional alterations primarily localized to the dorsal visual processing stream and cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical circuits, suggesting potential disruptions in related visuospatial processing, spatial working memory, reward processing, and executive functions. Correlation analysis indicated negative correlations between decreased rsFC and paternal rejection and overprotection subscales, with similar but weaker trends for maternal rejection. Furthermore, exploratory mediation analysis suggested that decreased rsFC strength is linked to the statistical correlation between perceived parental rejection and symptom severity. This study preliminarily reveals the potential correlations between neurobiological measures and environmental factors in adolescent OCD, and highlights the need for further research with larger cohorts.

PMID:41861847 | DOI:10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116168

Behav Brain Res. 2026 Mar 18:116146. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116146. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Effective motor strategy adaptation is essential for both high-performance sports and neurorehabilitation. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can modulate brain function; however, its efficacy may depend on the specificity of the stimulation targets. This study investigated whether function-specific rTMS, guided by fMRI-defined activation during motor imagery, enhances motor strategy adaptation. Forty-six healthy adults were randomized into three groups: function-specific rTMS, hotspot rTMS, and a no-stimulation control. All participants received identical motor imagery and physical practice in the backward glide shot put. Kinematic and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were collected before and after the 7-day intervention, and functional connectivity (FC) was analyzed. Results showed that function-specific rTMS led to significantly greater improvements in trunk angle during the glide phase, a critical biomechanical parameter. FC between the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and primary sensorimotor cortex increased significantly in this group and was positively correlated with kinematic improvements. These findings demonstrate that rTMS targeting task-relevant brain regions enhances motor strategy adaptation via mechanisms involving FC associated with motor performance, highlighting its potential for optimizing motor learning in both athletic and clinical populations.

PMID:41861846 | DOI:10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116146

Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2026 Mar 16;359:112198. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2026.112198. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Glymphatic-related perivascular processes may influence neurodevelopment, but their role in ADHD remains unclear. This study offers the first integrated assessment of glymphatic MRI markers in pediatric ADHD.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional case-control study, children with ADHD (n = 80) and age-matched controls (n = 110) underwent multimodal MRI. Structural glymphatic integrity was measured using the diffusion-derived ALPS index and choroid plexus volume from T1 segmentation, while functional dynamics were assessed via gBOLD-CSF coupling from resting-state fMRI. Cognitive performance and symptom severity were evaluated with standardized neuropsychological and behavioral tests.

RESULTS: Children with ADHD showed markedly higher ADHD-RS-IV, anxiety, and depressive symptoms (all P < 0.001). ALPS indices were significantly reduced (1.42 ± 0.18 vs. 1.51 ± 0.17; P = 0.002). CPV exhibited a non-significant trend toward enlargement (P = 0.060), whereas gBOLD-CSF coupling did not differ between groups (P = 0.635). Higher ALPS values correlated with better long-delay recall, recognition and processing speed (all P ≤ 0.006) and fewer inattentive symptoms and lower anxiety (P ≤ 0.020).

CONCLUSION: ADHD in children shows mild structural glymphatic alterations, with reduced ALPS linked to deficits in attention and cognition, indicating a potential neurodevelopmental role of perivascular pathways.

PMID:41861619 | DOI:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2026.112198

J Neurosci. 2026 Mar 20:e1775252026. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1775-25.2026. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Skill acquisition is a complex process which involves experience-dependent reorganization of functional brain networks. Learning-derived modifications have been widely reported, in both task-evoked neural activity and resting-state functional connectivity. Taking the close correspondence between the two into account, in this work we investigated functional connectivity alterations following learning and their relations to changes in activity and to behavioral learning outcomes. Hearing individuals naïve to sign languages (n=79, 50 females) attended an extensive Israeli Sign Language course and underwent task and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans before and after learning. We found widespread changes in the functional connectome, which exhibited significant spatial correspondence with changes in task-derived activation maps, suggesting coordinated reorganization mechanisms. Furthermore, post-learning functional connectivity was predictive of behavioral sign-language test scores obtained immediately following learning and six months later, associating functional connections with short- and long-term learning outcomes. Together, these findings suggest a tight link between task-evoked activity and functional connectivity changes following learning, and further associate connectivity with behavioral outcomes.Significance statement Skill acquisition is a key aspect of human cognition. The neural underpinnings of this complex process are under constant examinations. While a close correspondence between task-activity and functional connectivity at rest have been reported, investigations of this relationship during the acquisition of a new skill are limited. Here, we show a high spatial similarity between changes in task-activation and functional network architecture following sign language learning. Moreover, we demonstrate that post-learning functional connections are predictive of short- and long-term learning success. Overall, we show that skill acquisition drives interconnected alterations in resting-state connectivity and task-induced activity, with implications to behavior.

PMID:41862206 | DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1775-25.2026