Most recent paper

Life (Basel). 2025 Dec 12;15(12):1899. doi: 10.3390/life15121899.

ABSTRACT

Background: Although smartphone usage is inevitable and convenient in recent days, numerous potential problems due to excessive smartphone use (ESU) have been highlighted. With the rising concern about ESU, the focus on exploring the relationship between ESU and personality traits and their neural correlations also increased; however, studies that explore these factors simultaneously are lacking. Objective: This study investigated whether altered resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) is related to personality traits in adolescents exhibiting ESU compared to healthy controls (HCs). Methods: Thirty-one adolescents exhibiting ESU and 31 HCs (62 adolescents) aged 12-18 years were included in this study. Seed-to-voxel connectivity analysis was used to examine group differences in rsFC in the middle cingulate cortex (MCC) and insula, key parts of the salience network, in relation to personality traits. Results: Adolescents exhibiting ESU showed trends toward low persistence and high harm avoidance in terms of personality traits. Additionally, they exhibited enhanced rsFC between the MCC and insula but reduced rsFC between the precentral and postcentral gyri compared with HCs. Notably, increased rsFC between the MCC and insula in the ESU group was negatively correlated with low persistence. Conclusions: ESU was associated with low persistence at the uncorrected threshold in terms of personality traits and involved in neuro-functional alterations between the key hubs of the salience network, MCC, insula, and several other brain regions. These findings may provide a neurobiological basis for intervention targeting behavioral addiction in youth. Accordingly, adolescents with low persistence may need tailored education on appropriate and controlled use of smartphones and internet-based technologies.

PMID:41465839 | PMC:PMC12734216 | DOI:10.3390/life15121899

Cancers (Basel). 2025 Dec 5;17(24):3890. doi: 10.3390/cancers17243890.

ABSTRACT

Advances in neuroimaging and intraoperative mapping have transformed brain tumour surgery from anatomy-based resection to function-guided intervention. This review synthesises current evidence on multimodal strategies for maximising tumour removal while preserving cognitive and neurological function. Integrating task-based and resting-state functional MRI (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), tractography, and connectomic analysis enables personalised mapping of eloquent and cognitive networks. Intraoperatively, awake craniotomy with direct electrical stimulation (DES) remains the gold standard for real-time functional validation, while adjuncts such as intraoperative MRI (iMRI), 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) fluorescence, and ultrasound-based extended resection accuracy. However, these technologies present unique limitations, including neurovascular uncoupling in fMRI, tract distortion in DTI, and resource constraints in low-income settings. Our review differentiates their application across low-grade and high-grade gliomas, emphasising that tumour biology determines the balance between neuroplasticity-driven mapping and imaging-guided radicality. Key future priorities include validation of multimodal imaging protocols, integration of longitudinal neuropsychological outcomes, and development of interpretable connectomic models. Addressing the technological and ethical challenges of high-field MRI, data standardisation, and cost-effective implementation will be essential for equitable global adoption. Ultimately, the evolution of functional neurosurgery depends not only on new technologies but on integrating multimodal evidence and patient-centred outcome measures to achieve reproducible, safe, and personalised brain tumour surgery.

PMID:41463141 | PMC:PMC12731021 | DOI:10.3390/cancers17243890

Eur J Med Res. 2025 Dec 29;30(1):1262. doi: 10.1186/s40001-025-03542-y.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Overactive bladder (OAB) is a complex condition involving central nervous system (CNS) processes that are not fully understood. We conducted a detailed neuroimaging study to investigate the CNS role in OAB, focusing on the bladder emptying state.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 168 OAB patients and 133 matched controls. Participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) during the bladder emptying state. Data were analyzed using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS), graph theory, functional connectivity, and structure-function coupling. The Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) and the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire Short Form (OAB-q SF) were also utilized.

KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: TBSS revealed three white matter tracts with higher fractional anisotropy in OAB patients; the largest of these, including the body of the corpus callosum (bCC) and bilateral anterior corona radiata (ACR), correlated positively with OAB-q scores. Functional connectivity analysis indicated increased connectivity between the left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus (SFGdor.L) and bilateral supplementary motor areas, and reduced connectivity between the left middle temporal gyrus (MTG.L) and the right inferior temporal gyrus (ITG.R). The left amygdala (AMYG.L) exhibited enhanced structure-function coupling, which was positively associated with OABSS and OAB-q scores. However, the study's cross-sectional design precludes determining causal relationships due to the lack of longitudinal data.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study identified distinct functional and structural brain alterations in OAB patients during the bladder emptying state. These findings offer new perspectives for investigating innovative treatment strategies. Trial registration This study was registered on the UK's Clinical Study Registry (ISRCTN11583354).

PMID:41462487 | PMC:PMC12752313 | DOI:10.1186/s40001-025-03542-y

J Vestib Res. 2025 Dec 29:9574271251407403. doi: 10.1177/09574271251407403. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

ObjectivesBenign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a prevalent triggers of persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD). The maladaptation of brain function may be one of the pathophysiology in PPPD. This study aims to identify brain functional neuroimaging features and establish prediction models to predict PPPD after BPPV.MethodsThe diagnosis of BPPV and PPPD was based on the criteria established by the Bárány Society. Patients with posterior semicircular canal BPPV were treated using the Epley maneuver. Patients with geotropic lateral canal BPPV were treated with the barbecue rotation maneuver, while those with apogeotropic lateral canal BPPV were treated using the Gufoni maneuver. After successful canalith repositioning maneuver treatment, the patient underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan. Using feature selection and extraction techniques, six machine learning algorithms were implemented to predict PPPD. The models were trained with 5-fold cross-validation, and performance was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score (F1).ResultsA total of 101 patients were included in the final analysis, comprising 64 patients without PPPD (non-PPPD) and 37 patients with PPPD (PPPD). A total of 22 functional neuroimaging features were identified to be closely associated with PPPD after BPPV. Among the six machine learning algorithms, the Multilayer Perceptron model exhibited superior performance, with an AUC of 0.93, a recall of 0.82, a precision of 0.83, an accuracy of 0.82, and an F1 score of 0.82. SHAP analysis identified the most influential resting-state fMRI features in this model. For the top 10 important resting-state fMRI features, 3 features overlapped in all six machine learning algorithms. These features include FC between the vermis 3 and the superior frontal gyrus, orbital part, DC in the cerebellum 7b, left, and FC between the Heschl gyrus, left, and the caudate, right.ConclusionsThese findings provide brain functional neuroimaging features which may be closely associated with the transition from BPPV to PPPD, thereby offering a valuable tool for the early detection of PPPD.

PMID:41460105 | DOI:10.1177/09574271251407403

Cogn Neurodyn. 2026 Dec;20(1):24. doi: 10.1007/s11571-025-10397-w. Epub 2025 Dec 26.

ABSTRACT

Numerous studies in the bilingual literature have shown that cognitive control adapts to several factors related to second language (L2) learning. However, whether third language (L3) learning influences cognitive control remains underexplored. In this longitudinal study, we analyzed behavioral performance and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data among Chinese-English bilinguals at resting-state and during a flanker task both prior to English (L2) or Japanese (L3) learning and one year later. During brain resting-states for these same learners, we conducted a correlation analysis between language exam scores and functional connectivity strength of resting-state data after one year of study. The connectivity between the left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the left precuneus was positively correlated with English listening performance, while the connectivity between the right supramarginal gyrus (SMG) and the right inferior parietal lobe (IPL) was negatively correlated with English oral performance. The behavioral results from the flanker task showed that after one year of L2 learning in a classroom setting, a significantly smaller flanker effect emerged among Chinese-English bilinguals. Moreover, brain imaging revealed that incongruent flanker trials elicited greater activation of the left superior frontal gyrus (SFG) than congruent trials. These behavioral and neural patterns were not found among Chinese-English bilinguals who had studied Japanese for one year. Taken together, these findings suggest that cognitive control adapts to L2 learning, but appears to be unaffected by L3 learning.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11571-025-10397-w.

PMID:41458475 | PMC:PMC12743047 | DOI:10.1007/s11571-025-10397-w

Front Neuroimaging. 2025 Dec 12;4:1653206. doi: 10.3389/fnimg.2025.1653206. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Functional brain connectivity measures extracted from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans have generated wide interest as potential noninvasive biomarkers. In this context, performing global signal regression (GSR) as a preprocessing step remains controversial. Specifically, while it has been shown that a considerable fraction of global signal variations is associated with physiological and motion sources, GSR may also result in removing neural activity.

METHODS: Here, we address this question by examining the fundamental sources of resting global signal fluctuations using simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG)-fMRI data combined with cardiac and breathing recordings.

RESULTS: Our results suggest that systemic physiological fluctuations account for a significantly larger fraction of global signal variability compared to electrophysiological fluctuations. Furthermore, we show that GSR reduces artifactual connectivity due to heart rate and breathing fluctuations, but preserves connectivity patterns associated with electrophysiological activity within the alpha and beta frequency ranges.

DISCUSSION: Overall, these results provide evidence that the neural component of resting-state fMRI-based connectivity is preserved after the global signal is regressed out.

PMID:41458206 | PMC:PMC12740878 | DOI:10.3389/fnimg.2025.1653206

J Pain Res. 2025 Dec 22;18:6993-7003. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S553431. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This exploratory study investigated the neurobiological mechanisms of cancer pain by examining functional brain alterations using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), aiming to characterize neural network changes and identify potential neuroimaging biomarkers.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to October 2022, involving 20 cancer pain patients and 20 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls. Participants underwent comprehensive clinical assessments and 3.0T resting-state fMRI scanning. Inclusion criteria were patients aged ≥18 years with pathologically confirmed malignant neoplasms experiencing moderate to severe pain (NRS ≥ 4). Functional connectivity and low-frequency amplitude analyses were performed using the right nucleus accumbens as a seed region.

RESULTS: Significant neuroplastic changes were observed in cancer pain patients, primarily in the right hemisphere. Low-frequency amplitude analysis revealed reduced spontaneous neural activity in critical brain regions, including the right medial prefrontal cortex (T = -4.36), right superior/middle frontal gyrus (T = -5.21), and right precuneus (T = -4.15). Functional connectivity analysis showed substantially decreased connectivity between the right nucleus accumbens and bilateral medial prefrontal cortex (T = -4.86), left temporal pole (T = -5.62), and right superior temporal gyrus (T = -5.05).

CONCLUSION: The study provides preliminary evidence of right hemispheric neuronal dysfunction in cancer pain, highlighting altered functional connectivity in emotion regulation and pain processing neural circuits. These findings offer insights into the neurobiological mechanisms of cancer pain and potential objective assessment approaches.

PMID:41458190 | PMC:PMC12742303 | DOI:10.2147/JPR.S553431

Front Neurol. 2025 Dec 12;16:1634902. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1634902. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Speech production and comprehension are coordinated by a large-scale language network. The dynamic balance of intrahemispheric and interhemispheric connectivity within this network is essential for normal language processing. Stroke often significantly disrupts both the functional integrity and dynamic balance of the language network, leading to language deficits (aphasia). However, the brain's adaptive potential to compensate for lesions in post-stroke aphasia (PSA) remains incompletely understood. A key unresolved question is whether recovery of language function in PSA is primarily facilitated by compensatory mechanisms within the left hemisphere, increased recruitment ("upregulation") in the right hemisphere, or both. Building on prior research, we defined a language network encompassing canonical language areas. We employed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to quantify functional connectivity (FC) and investigated differences in intrahemispheric and interhemispheric connectivity within this network between 32 patients with PSA and 70 healthy controls (HCs). Furthermore, we examined the association between altered connectivity patterns at baseline and subsequent improvement in language function in the PSA group. Compared to the HCs, the patients with PSA exhibited increased intrahemispheric FC at baseline. Crucially, this increased intrahemispheric FC was positively correlated with the magnitude of language function improvement from baseline to follow-up. In addition, intrahemispheric FC was significantly higher than interhemispheric FC in the PSA group at baseline. These findings suggest that aberrant connectivity within the language network represents a neural substrate of language impairment in PSA and that heightened intrahemispheric connectivity within the residual left hemisphere language network may predict better recovery of language function in patients with subacute PSA. Collectively, network-based pathology analysis enhances our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying both lesion effects and functional recovery in PSA.

PMID:41458121 | PMC:PMC12740746 | DOI:10.3389/fneur.2025.1634902

Brain Res Bull. 2025 Dec 26;234:111709. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2025.111709. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The abnormal functional integration of DMN was widely observed in the psychosis. However, few studies focused on DMN in individuals at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHR), especially under different cognitive loads. The present research predominantly focused on DMN and its antagonism with other networks using the functional MRI. To characterize the specificity of cognitive load-dependent antagonism between DMN and its anti-correlated networks in CHR, this study simulated a graded cognitive load continuum by implementing resting-state fMRI (Minimal cognitive load), passive SSVEP task (low cognitive load), and Emotional Face-Matching Task (high cognitive load). There were 36 CHR individuals and 39 healthy controls (HC) enrolled. Static and dynamic functional connectivity (sFC and dFC) were analyzed. The CHR subjects exhibited significantly reduced antagonism between higher-order cortices and DMN under low cognitive condition. Conversely, they demonstrated enhanced antagonism with greater fluctuation under high cognitive condition, likely a compensatory mechanism to maintain cognitive performance. Concurrently, the primary cortex demonstrated compensatory fluctuations during low cognitive load task. The neural signature reflects inefficient neural resource allocation and cognitive flexibility deficits, suggesting that dynamic brain network indicators based on cognitive load may become sensitive biomarkers for the early identification and intervention of CHR.

PMID:41456742 | DOI:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2025.111709

Brain Res. 2025 Dec 13:150106. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2025.150106. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: This study investigates the role of central nervous system networks outside the auditory system in the development of tinnitus.

METHODS: Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 96 dB SPL narrowband noise (right ear, 1 h); nine unexposed rats served as controls. Tinnitus presence was evaluated through gap prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle (GPIAS-PPI), which divided the exposed rats into tinnitus (ET, n = 8) and non-tinnitus (ENT, n = 12) groups. The auditory brainstem response (ABR) was utilized to evaluate hearing thresholds and wave I parameters. Resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) revealed significant increases/decreases in resting-state indices, including the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and functional connectivity.

RESULTS: ABR exhibited no intergroup threshold differences. Post-exposure, ET and ENT groups exhibited a decrease in click-evoked wave I amplitude compared to pre-exposure levels, along with an increase in 8 kHz wave I amplitude compared to controls. Rs-fMRI revealed that the ET group had increased ALFF in the entorhinal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, and superior colliculus, and decreased ALFF in the cingulate and prelimbic cortices. The ENT group showed increased cerebellar activity and decreased basal forebrain activity. ReHo was elevated in the ET group's entorhinal/amygdala and reduced in the cingulate cortex, whereas the ENT group showed reduced basal forebrain/striatum ReHo. ET weakened amygdala-sensory connections and ENT enhanced basal forebrain-cingulate/sensory connectivity.

CONCLUSION: Noise-exposed rats with/without tinnitus exhibit distinct neural activity/connectivity patterns, supporting a noise-cancellation gating mechanism. Compensatory prelimbic cortex/striatum connectivity may prevent tinnitus in the ENT group. Further research should target noise elimination pathways and the hippocampal/entorhinal roles in "abnormal auditory memory."

PMID:41397531 | DOI:10.1016/j.brainres.2025.150106

PLoS Comput Biol. 2025 Dec 15;21(12):e1013822. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013822. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) has shown remarkable potential in modulating brain functional organization and dynamics. However, the exact mechanisms underlying its effects remain unclear. In this study, we employed a data-driven approach to analyze recurrent functional connectivity patterns in resting-state fMRI data and developed a parameterized feedback inhibition model to characterize excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance. The findings demonstrate that LSD enhances global brain synchrony and dynamic complexity. This enhanced synchrony likely stems from LSD's preferential stabilization of a globally synchronized yet functionally non-modular brain state - a pattern showing higher occurrence probability and acts as an "attractor" that recruits transitions from cognitive control networks. Crucially, these phenomena appear underpinned by LSD-induced convergence of excitatory/inhibitory balance across cortical hierarchies, particularly through Sensorimotor (SOM) suppression coupled with transmodal potentiation, where the Sensorimotor cortices emerge as potential regulatory hubs driving this neurochemical rebalancing. These convergent effects are consistent with the emergence of a brain state characterized by weakened sensory anchoring and enhanced cognitive flexibility, where the typical separation between concrete perception and abstract cognition becomes blurred. This neurophysiological remodeling therefore suggests a potential mechanism that could contribute to LSD's hallucinatory effects and its therapeutic potential in mental disorders characterized by rigid thought patterns.

PMID:41397035 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013822

IEEE J Biomed Health Inform. 2025 Dec 15;PP. doi: 10.1109/JBHI.2025.3644481. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Effective connectivity (EC) derived from resting-state Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rs fMRI) has emerged as a critical tool for deepening our understanding of brain function in both health and dis ease. However, most studies estimate EC on an individual basis, treating it as a hidden parameter within the model and requiring retraining the model for each subject. They often overlook the valuable population-level information and limit their generalizability. Additionally, EC is typically obtained independently of downstream tasks, reducing its capacity to effectively capture task-specific variations. To address these limitations, we propose a flexible Task-Aware Effective Connectivity (TAEC) model, designed to construct individualized, task-aware, and nonlinear causal brain networks without requiring subject-specific retraining. In this framework, a Causal Discovery Module (CDM) is introduced to capture the implicit neural representation of the EC by a spatial-temporal attention mechanism, producing the estimation of an individual EC. Subsequently, we propose a Task-Aware Graph Neural Network (GNN) Predictor, which incorporates a task-aware penalty to enable end-to-end prediction, enhancing task performance and the identification of task-dependent EC patterns. Extensive experiments on twelve cognitive tasks from the Human Connectome Project (HCP) dataset demonstrate that the proposed method achieves state-of-the-art performance, validating its effectiveness in task-aware effective connectivity modeling. Furthermore, the framework discovers discriminative and task-specific EC patterns, which offer additional in-sights into cognitive functions.

PMID:41396753 | DOI:10.1109/JBHI.2025.3644481

Imaging Neurosci (Camb). 2025 Dec 10;3:IMAG.a.1031. doi: 10.1162/IMAG.a.1031. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Information processing in the brain spans from localised sensorimotor processes to higher-level cognition that integrates across multiple regions. Interactions between and within these subsystems enable multiscale information processing. Despite this multiscale characteristic, functional brain connectivity is often either estimated based on 10-30 distributed modes or parcellations with 100-1000 localised parcels, both missing across-scale functional interactions. We present Multiscale Probabilistic Functional Modes (mPFMs), a new mapping which comprises modes over various scales of granularity, thus enabling direct estimation of functional connectivity within- and across-scales. Crucially, mPFMs were not formulated, but emerged from data-driven multilevel Bayesian modelling of large functional MRI (fMRI) populations and every individual. We demonstrate that mPFMs capture both distributed brain modes and their co-existing subcomponents. In addition to validating mPFMs using simulations and real data, we show that mPFMs can predict ~900 personalised traits from UK Biobank more accurately than current standard techniques. Therefore, mPFMs can offer a new basis for functional connectivity modelling and yield enhanced fMRI biomarkers for traits and diseases.

PMID:41395364 | PMC:PMC12696669 | DOI:10.1162/IMAG.a.1031

Front Neuroimaging. 2025 Nov 28;4:1677410. doi: 10.3389/fnimg.2025.1677410. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The characteristic brain function and network activity patterns in adolescents with first-episode depression (FED) remain systematically underexplored. This study aims to investigate abnormalities in cerebral function and networks in adolescent FED patients through analyses of the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF), fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF), and independent component analysis (ICA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of 36 adolescents with first-episode depression (patient group, PT) and 34 healthy controls (HC group) were enrolled. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). All participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Neuronal activity and functional network alterations were analyzed via ALFF, fALFF, and ICA methodologies.

RESULTS: Compared to the HC group, the PT group exhibited increased ALFF values in the left fusiform gyrus (Fusiform_L), left middle temporal gyrus (Temporal_Mid_L), right middle occipital gyrus (Occipital_Mid_R), right middle temporal gyrus (Temporal_Mid_R), right calcarine cortex (Calcarine_R), right angular gyrus (Angular_R), and left calcarine cortex (Calcarine_L). Elevated fALFF values were observed in the right calcarine cortex (Calcarine_R) and left superior temporal gyrus (Temporal_Sup_L), while decreased fALFF values were detected in the left superior temporal pole (Temporal_Pole_Sup_L), right medial superior frontal gyrus (Frontal_Sup_Medial_R), left superior frontal gyrus (Frontal_Sup_L), and left precuneus (Precuneus_L). Connectivity differences within the visual network (VIN) were identified between groups, with a peak difference in the right inferior temporal gyrus (Temporal_Inf_R), where the PT group demonstrated hyperconnectivity.

CONCLUSION: In summary, neurofunctional abnormalities in adolescent FED patients involve the temporal lobe emotion-processing network, prefrontal executive control system, and default mode network (DMN). Aberrant low-frequency activity in the temporal pole and superior frontal gyrus may exacerbate emotion dysregulation, whereas hyperactivation of the precuneus and visual cortex could potentiate negative self-referential processing. Notably, the right middle occipital gyrus may represent a distinctive biomarker of adolescent depression. These findings provide novel insights into the early neural mechanisms underlying adolescent depression and suggest that non-invasive neuromodulation techniques targeting specific brain regions (e.g., transcranial magnetic stimulation, TMS) hold therapeutic potential.

PMID:41393172 | PMC:PMC12698414 | DOI:10.3389/fnimg.2025.1677410

Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2025 Dec 12;103:112738. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2025.11.015. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Abnormal functional connectivity (FC) has been consistently associated with bipolar disorders (BD). Classical FC analyses assume stationarity of brain interactions, although connectivity actually varies over time. Here, we examined alterations in dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) in BD, their associations with symptom severity and global functioning, and potential differences between bipolar disorder type I (BD1) and type II (BD2). In this case-control study, we investigated dFNC in 57 patients with BD (29 BD1, 28 BD2) and 43 healthy controls (HCs). Most patients were euthymic at scanning (∼86 %), with only a minority showing residual depressive or hypomanic/mixed symptoms. Resting-state fMRI data were decomposed with spatially constrained independent component analysis and analyzed using a sliding-window approach. Meta-state metrics-number of meta-states, transitions, total distance, and span-were derived and compared across groups. Correlations with clinical measures and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores were tested. Dynamic metrics (number of meta-states, state transitions, and total distance) were reduced in BD relative to HCs, with the greatest reduction in BD1, followed by BD2. State span did not differ between groups. Across the BD sample, higher GAF scores were positively associated with greater dynamic fluidity, whereas no significant associations emerged with standard symptom scales. In conclusion, BD is characterized by a graded disruption of the spatio-temporal dynamics of large-scale brain networks, most pronounced in BD1. Reduced neural flexibility is linked to poorer global functioning, suggesting that dFNC meta-state metrics may provide clinically relevant markers of illness burden in bipolar disorder.

PMID:41391397 | DOI:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2025.11.015

Neuroimage. 2025 Dec 12:121647. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121647. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Infra-Low-Frequency Neurofeedback (ILF-NFB), an EEG-based intervention, integrates specific electrode placements with "classic" frequency band (FB; 1-35 Hz) and infra-low-frequency (ILF; <0.1 Hz) components. Despite increasing clinical use, systematic studies of their individual and combined effects on neurophysiology remain limited. To address this gap, we conducted three randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind crossover studies (each with 40 healthy volunteers) examining FB-Only (Study 1), ILF-Only (Study 2), and combined FB&ILF (Study 3) protocols. The primary outcome was a functional connectivity multivariate pattern analysis (fc-MVPA) of resting-state fMRI data, using false discovery rate (FDR)-corrected thresholds (p<0.05) at voxel and cluster levels. Exploratory analyses included post-hoc seed-to-voxel analyses (Bonferroni-corrected, p-FWE<0.0083), psychophysiological measures (heart rate variability [HRV], respiration), and neurofeedback state questionnaires. For FB-Only and ILF-Only, fc-MVPA interaction effects did not survive FDR correction. For study with combined FB&ILF, fc-MVPA revealed significant interaction effects ([Post-Pre Verum] vs. [Post-Pre Sham]), identifying clusters in parietal, occipital, and cingulate regions. Post-hoc seed-to-voxel analyses using the fc-MVPA clusters as seeds suggested that FB&ILF increased connectivity between posterior midline/parieto-occipital regions and the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; no significant changes were observed in sham conditions. HRV showed a significant interaction effect only in the FB&ILF study. Questionnaires revealed greater perceived controllability and signal causation in Verum vs. Sham for FB-Only and FB&ILF, but not ILF-Only. Verum ILF-Only improved concentration and well-being, though participants also reported increased nervousness and sleepiness post-session. Overall, our findings indicate that the combined FB&ILF application induces robust connectivity and autonomic changes, providing initial evidence to support clinical ILF-NFB effects and warranting further mechanistic studies.

PMID:41391628 | DOI:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121647

Transl Psychiatry. 2025 Dec 13. doi: 10.1038/s41398-025-03774-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Why some individuals are resilient to trauma while others develop psychopathology remains a baffling question in mental health research. Trauma-related conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and anxiety disorders affect millions worldwide, emphasizing the need to understand the neural mechanisms that underlie these divergent outcomes. Through the use of ultra-high field (UHF) 7 T imaging, this study sought to investigate how thalamic functional connectivity differentiates resilience from vulnerability in trauma-exposed individuals. To that end, UHF 7 T resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) was applied to a group of 46 refugees from the Levant region, including 23 symptomatic (PTSD, MDD, or anxiety disorders) and 23 asymptomatic participants. Using the CONN toolbox, we conducted seed-to-voxel analyses focused on the thalamic subregions defined by the Human Brainnetome Atlas. Our results revealed significant connectivity alterations in the right medial prefrontal thalamus (mPFtha), the lateral prefrontal thalamus (lPFtha), and the occipital thalamus (Otha). Symptomatic individuals exhibited hyperconnectivity between the thalamic subregions and the somatosensory, visual, and cerebellar networks, along with reduced inter-thalamic connectivity, suggesting emotional dysregulation and hypervigilance. In contrast, asymptomatic participants displayed increased inter-thalamic connectivity and hypoconnectivity with these networks, reflecting efficient sensory integration and emotion regulation. Reduced inter-thalamic connectivity was found to correlate with lower resilience, underscoring the importance of effective thalamic communication for emotional stability. Taken together, our findings suggest that thalamic dysregulation contributes to vulnerability, while increased inter-thalamic connectivity fosters resilience through better sensory and emotion regulation. Thus, this study affords valuable insights into potential neural targets for interventions, which may help enhance resilience in trauma-exposed populations.

PMID:41390440 | DOI:10.1038/s41398-025-03774-w

Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2025 Dec 8;356:112108. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112108. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Mental time travel (MTT) is a cognitive capacity to mentally re-experience past events and anticipate future possibilities. Self-related MTT events have stronger vividness and sense of experience than events related to others, i.e., the "self-advantage effect". This effect is diminished in individuals with high schizotypal traits (HST) who are at risk for schizophrenia. However, the neural correlates of this effect remain unclear. The present study aimed to examine this issue through resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).

METHODS: Thirty-nine individuals with HST and 38 individuals with low schizotypal traits (LST) were recruited. They completed the self/other-related MTT task and underwent rs-fMRI scanning.

RESULTS: In HST, the "self-advantage effect" on specificity was positively correlated with functional connectivity (FC) between the right precuneus and bilateral frontal pole, left temporal pole, and the posterior cingulate cortex, whereas this association was negative in individuals with LST. Additionally, the "self-advantage effect" on emotional intensity was negatively associated with FC between the left precuneus and middle cingulate cortex in HST, but positively associated in LST.

CONCLUSIONS: People with HST have altered association patterns between the "self-advantage effect" in MTT and resting-state FC. The "self-advantage effect" in MTT may be a potential target for intervention in the schizophrenia spectrum.

PMID:41389534 | DOI:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112108

Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2025 Dec 8;356:112104. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112104. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This double-blind randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) on degree centrality (DC) in the cerebellum and empathy in patients with schizophrenia.

METHODS: Forty-five patients with schizophrenia were randomly assigned to either active stimulation group (n=24) or sham stimulation group (n=21). Both groups underwent HD-tDCS targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Resting-state fMRI scan, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Chinese version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI-C) were applied at baseline and post-intervention. Degree centrality (DC) analysis and functional connectivity (FC) analysis were performed to identify changes in brain. Correlations between neural and behavioral alterations were examined.

RESULTS: After intervention, the active stimulation group showed a significant increase in DC in the right posterior cerebellum compared with their own baseline, whereas no such change was observed in the sham group. Exploratory analysis revealed enhanced FC between the right posterior cerebellum and right hippocampus in the active group post-intervention. Clinically, the active group exhibited significant reductions in total PANSS scores and positive symptom scores relative to baseline. A potential positive correlation was noted between the increased right posterior cerebellar DC and improved empathetic concern in the active group.

CONCLUSION: HD-tDCS over the left DLPFC emerges as a promising targeted intervention for schizophrenia, capable of modulating cerebellar functional integration (as reflected by improved DC) and alleviating clinical symptoms.

PMID:41389533 | DOI:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.112104

BMC Med. 2025 Dec 13. doi: 10.1186/s12916-025-04577-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Verbal fluency impairment is a common cognitive deficit in epilepsy that further increases the burden of the disease. Current anti-seizure medications mainly target seizure control but rarely improve cognition and may even worsen it in the patients. Neuromodulation has shown potential to control seizures and improve cognition simultaneously by stimulating specific nuclei or neural circuits, but the precise targets for verbal fluency deficits remain unclear, particularly in patients unaffected by anti-seizure medication. Therefore, investigating the neural mechanisms in newly diagnosed epilepsy (NDE) patients is essential for developing targeted interventions. This study aimed to explore brain network abnormalities and their relationship with verbal fluency deficits in NDE patients.

METHODS: One hundred NDE patients and 54 matched healthy controls were recruited and underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Independent component analysis was used to assess whole-brain network functional connectivity (FC). Verbal fluency was evaluated using character and semantic verbal fluency tests (VFTs). Correlation and mediation analyses were conducted to examine the relationships among clinical features, verbal fluency, and FC.

RESULTS: Compared with healthy controls, NDE patients exhibited hypo-intra-network FC in the medial visual, auditory, and lateral sensorimotor networks. Correlation analysis showed that FC in the left auditory network, including the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and superior temporal gyrus (STG), was significantly associated with the VFT scores in the NDE patients. Notably, the FC of IFG and STG within the left auditory network mediated the relationship between seizure frequency and verbal fluency deficits.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that NDE patients exhibit widespread dysfunction in perceptual networks. Abnormal FC of IFG and STG within the left auditory network serves as a neural substrate linking seizure burden to verbal fluency deficits. These insights provide a foundation for future interventions targeting network-level dysfunction in patients with epilepsy.

PMID:41387880 | DOI:10.1186/s12916-025-04577-y