Feed aggregator

Brain Imaging Behav. 2025 Mar 28. doi: 10.1007/s11682-025-00977-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study aims to unravel the consistent abnormalities in functional connectivity (FC) with the primary motor cortex (M1) for post-stroke motor dysfunctions and the dynamic shifts of FC across distinct phases (acute/subacute/chronic) following stroke onset. Eleven studies with 269 stroke patients and 257 healthy controls (HCs) were included after screening articles in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase. Voxel-wise meta-analysis and subgroup analysis on three phases after stroke onset were applied using the anisotropic effect size-signed differential mapping toolbox. Additionally, a M1-seeded FC analysis from an independent dataset with 29 stroke patients and 40 HCs was applied to validate the results of the meta-analyses. The abnormal connectivity with M1 in patients with post-stroke motor dysfunctions extended beyond motor-related regions to non-motor domains. A consistent interhemispheric connectivity reduction between M1 and motor-related regions emerged as a hallmark, persisting across different phases after stroke onset. These alterations were largely replicable through validation analysis. Our findings indicated the imbalance of connectivity in patients with post-stroke motor dysfunctions.

PMID:40148720 | DOI:10.1007/s11682-025-00977-z

J Neurosci. 2025 Mar 27:e0975242025. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0975-24.2025. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Encoding new memories relies on functional connections between the medial temporal lobe and the frontoparietal cortices. Multi-scan fMRI showed changes in these functional connections before and after memory encoding, potentially influenced by the thalamus. As different thalamic nuclei are interconnected with distinct cortical networks, we hypothesized that variations in cortico-thalamic recruitment may impact individual memory performance.We used a multi-scan fMRI protocol including a resting-state scan followed by an associative memory task encompassing encoding and retrieval phases, in two independent samples of healthy adults (N1=29, mean age=26, males=35%; N2=108; mean age=28, males=52%). Individual activity and functional connectivity were analyzed in the native space to minimize registration bias. By modeling the direct and indirect effects of cortico-thalamic recruitment on memory using Structural Equation Modeling, we showed a positive association between resting-state functional connectivity of the medial thalamic subdivision within the frontoparietal network and memory performance across samples (effect size R2 ranging between 0.27 and 0.36; p-values between 0.01 and 4e-05). This direct relationship was mediated by decreased activation of the anterior subdivision during encoding (R2 ranging between 0.04 and 0.2; p-values between 0.05 and 0.006) and by increased activation of the medial subdivision during retrieval (R2 ranging between 0.04 and 0.2; p-values between 0.05 and 0.004). Moreover, three distinct clusters of individuals displayed different cortico-thalamic patterns across memory phases.We suggest that associative memory encoding relies on the distinct cortico-thalamic pathways involving medial thalamic recruitment and suppression of anterior subdivision to support the successful encoding of new memories.Significance statement Every person is unique in their learning process and related brain functional organization. Prior research has mainly aimed to find shared patterns in how the brain responds to external stimuli, often overlooking individual behavioral differences. We hypothesized that individuals may recruit different neural resources supporting their learning abilities. We investigated whether specific brain configurations are beneficial to individual memory performance. We found that the baseline configuration of select cortico-thalamic networks involving the medial thalamic subdivision supports memory performance via the indirect effects of the anterior thalamic subdivision deactivation and medial activation during the memory task. We propose that cortico-thalamic functioning involving the anterior and medial thalamus underlies interindividual variability in associative memory encoding.

PMID:40147936 | DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0975-24.2025

Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2025 Mar 9;349:111973. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.111973. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a risk factor for female depression, linked to neural circuit dysfunction. This study investigates PMS-related brain network patterns, focusing on the triple network's integration and segregation.

MATERIALS & METHODS: The study enrolled 56 PMS patients and 67 healthy controls (HCs), assessed via the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP). Functional MRI (fMRI) was analyzed using independent component analysis (ICA) to calculate functional connectivity (FC) and functional network connectivity (FNC) within and between brain networks. Correlation analysis examined links between imaging metrics and DRSP scores.

RESULTS: Compared with HCs, PMS patients showed increased FC in the left inferior frontal gyrus of the salience network (SN). Additionally, there was increased FNC between the dorsal default mode network (dDMN), while a decrease was observed between the right execution network (RECN) and SN. Conversely, the FNC between RECN and dDMN was enhanced. Significant correlations were found between the FC values within the SN and DRSP scores. Similarly, the abnormal FNC pattern also correlated significantly with DRSP scores.

CONCLUSION: Triple-network dysconnectivity may serve as a biomarker for PMS, offering insights into its pathophysiology and potential targets for network-based neuromodulation therapies.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Identifying network dysconnectivities in PMS offers potential biomarkers for diagnosis and targets for neuromodulation therapy, ultimately improving symptom management and patient outcomes.

PMID:40147104 | DOI:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.111973

Appl Neuropsychol Adult. 2025 Mar 27:1-18. doi: 10.1080/23279095.2025.2470415. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Elucidating the mechanisms of successful word retrieval by anomia therapy could improve our knowledge about language processing and also help design effective treatments. The two main subcomponents of resting-state networks related to language processing are the default mode network (DMN) and the language network (LN). To study how changes in brain activation occur due to anomia therapy, we investigated pre-and-post changes in the DMN and LN activation nodes in a deficit-based treatment of 15 persons with aphasia (PWAs). In this method, seven participants (mean age 46.71 ± 8.99) with predominant semantic type errors received the semantic feature analysis (SFA) treatment approach, and 8 participants (mean age 46.5 ± 10.47) with mostly phonological type errors were treated with phonological components analysis (PCA) intervention. Both treatments improved word retrieval and had generalization effects on the language function. Increased activation in frontoparietal areas was observed after PCA therapy, while naming improvement after SFA was associated with increased activation in frontotemporal areas. These findings show that focusing on the impaired level of word retrieval processing may also be associated with changes in activation in brain areas related to that impaired level. Future studies could investigate the DMN and LN networks of the resting state-functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to understand the mechanisms involved in aphasia therapy.

PMID:40145234 | DOI:10.1080/23279095.2025.2470415

Front Neurosci. 2025 Mar 12;19:1543206. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2025.1543206. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: In this study we develop undersampled echo-volumar imaging (EVI) using multi-band/simultaneous multi-slab encoding in conjunction with multi-shot slab-segmentation to accelerate 3D encoding and to reduce the duration of EVI encoding within slabs. This approach combines the sampling efficiency of single-shot 3D encoding with the sensitivity advantage of multi-echo acquisition. We describe the pulse sequence development and characterize the spatial-temporal resolution limits and BOLD sensitivity of this approach for high-speed task-based and resting-state fMRI at 3 T. We study the feasibility of further acceleration using compressed sensing (CS) and assess compatibility with NORDIC denoising.

METHODS: Multi-band echo volumar imaging (MB-EVI) combines multi-band encoding of up to 6 slabs with CAIPI shifting, accelerated EVI encoding within slabs using up to 4-fold GRAPPA accelerations, 2-shot kz-segmentation and partial Fourier acquisitions along the two phase-encoding dimensions. Task-based and resting-state fMRI at 3 Tesla was performed across a range of voxel sizes (between 1 and 3 mm isotropic), repetition times (118-650 ms), and number of slabs (up to 12). MB-EVI was compared with multi-slab EVI (MS-EVI) and multi-band-EPI (MB-EPI).

RESULTS: Image quality and temporal SNR of MB-EVI was comparable to MS-EVI when using 2-3 mm spatial resolution. High sensitivity for mapping task-based activation and resting-state connectivity at short TR was measured. Online deconvolution of T2* signal decay markedly reduced spatial blurring and improved image contrast. The high temporal resolution of MB-EVI enabled sensitive mapping of high-frequency resting-state connectivity above 0.3 Hz with 3 mm isotropic voxel size (TR: 163 ms). Detection of task-based activation with 1 mm isotropic voxel size was feasible in scan times as short as 1 min 13 s. Compressed sensing with up to 2.4-fold retrospective undersampling showed negligible loss in image quality and moderate region-specific losses in BOLD sensitivity. NORDIC denoising significantly enhanced fMRI sensitivity without introducing image blurring.

CONCLUSION: Combining MS-EVI with multi-band encoding enables high overall acceleration factors and provides flexibility for maximizing spatial-temporal resolution and volume coverage. The high BOLD sensitivity of this hybrid MB-EVI approach and its compatibility with online image reconstruction enables high spatial-temporal resolution real-time task-based and resting state fMRI.

PMID:40143844 | PMC:PMC11936983 | DOI:10.3389/fnins.2025.1543206

Transl Psychiatry. 2025 Mar 26;15(1):96. doi: 10.1038/s41398-025-03327-1.

ABSTRACT

The relationship between brain asymmetry and inattention, and their heritability is not well understood. Utilizing advanced neuroimaging, we examined brain asymmetry with data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD; n = 8943; 9-10 y) and the Human Connectome Project (HCP) cohorts (n = 1033; 5-100 y). Data-driven metrics from resting-state fMRI and morphometrics revealed reproducible and stable brain asymmetry patterns across the lifespan. In children, high levels of inattention were highly heritable (61%) and linked to reduced leftward asymmetry of functional connectivity in the dorsal posterior superior temporal sulcus (dpSTS), a region interconnected with a left-lateralized language network. However, reduced dpSTS asymmetry had low heritability (16%) and was associated with lower cognitive performance suggesting that non-genetic factors, such as those mediating cognitive performance, might underlie its association with dpSTS asymmetry. Interventions that enhance cognition might help optimize brain function and reduce inattention.

PMID:40140344 | DOI:10.1038/s41398-025-03327-1

Neurobiol Aging. 2025 Mar 17;150:157-171. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2025.03.007. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by a long preclinical stage during which molecular markers of amyloid beta and tau pathology rise, but there is minimal neurodegeneration or cognitive decline. Previous literature suggests that measures of brain function might be more sensitive to neuropathologic burden during the preclinical stage of AD than conventional measures of macrostructure, such as cortical thickness. Among studies that used resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) acquisitions with Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) contrast, most employed connectivity-based analytic approaches. Consequently, little is known about the effects of amyloid and tau pathology on amplitude of intrinsic BOLD signal fluctuations. To address this knowledge gap, we characterized the effects of preclinical and prodromal AD on the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) of the BOLD signal both at the whole-brain level and at a more granular level focused on subregions of the medial temporal lobe. We observed reduced ALFF in both preclinical and prodromal AD. In preclinical AD, amyloid positivity was associated with a spatially diffuse ALFF reduction in the frontal, medial parietal, and lateral temporal association cortices. In contrast, tau pathology was negatively associated with ALFF in the entorhinal cortex. These ALFF effects were observed in the absence of observable macrostructural changes in preclinical AD and remained after adjusting for structural atrophy in prodromal AD, indicating that ALFF offers additional sensitivity to early disease processes beyond what is provided by traditional structural imaging biomarkers of neurodegeneration. We conclude that ALFF may be a promising imaging-based biomarker in preclinical AD.

PMID:40138942 | DOI:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2025.03.007

Brain Behav. 2025 Mar;15(3):e70440. doi: 10.1002/brb3.70440.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The nucleus accumbens (NAc), an important component of the reward circuit, is believed to play an indispensable role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to explore alterations in the functional connectivity (FC) of NAc subregions in AD patients and to explore their associations with neuropsychological profiles.

METHODS: Total 45 AD patients and 41 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited for this study. Four subregions of the NAc were used as regions of interest for whole-brain FC analysis. Correlation analyses were conducted to explore the relationships between the changed FC of brain regions with significant differences and neuropsychological profiles.

RESULTS: Compared with HCs, decreased FC was observed between NAc subregions and regions of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), precuneus (PCUN), insula (INS), cerebellum 8, and putamen in AD patients (Gaussian random field [GRF] corrected, voxel-level p < 0.001, cluster-level p < 0.05). Furthermore, the FC between the left core and left PCUN was correlated with the score of the auditory verbal learning test immediate recall task in AD patients (r = 0.441, p = 0.003, Bonferroni corrected).

CONCLUSION: Disruptions in connectivity between the NAc subregions and important cognitive-related areas may be related to the cognitive deficits observed in AD patients, especially episodic memory function.

PMID:40135639 | DOI:10.1002/brb3.70440

Brain Behav. 2025 Mar;15(3):e70434. doi: 10.1002/brb3.70434.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to investigate cognitive function changes in trigeminal neuralgia (TN) patients and healthy controls (HCs), and to elucidate the potential mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cognitive function of 34 patients with TN and 30 HCs was evaluated. Afterward, we calculated the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFFs), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and degree centrality (DC). These metrics were correlated with cognitive performance using the Spearman correlation analysis.

RESULTS: Patients with TN exhibited diminished cognitive performance compared to HCs. Increased mean ALFF (mALFF) levels were detected in the right temporal pole, superior temporal gyrus, and right insula in individuals with TN. These increases were negatively correlated with cognitive function. In contrast, decreased mALFF values were observed in the right lingual gyrus, bilateral calcarine, and left middle occipital gyrus, which were associated with improved cognitive function. Increased DC values were found in various areas, such as the right temporal pole, superior temporal gyrus, right opercular inferior frontal gyrus, bilateral medial superior frontal gyrus, left supplementary motor area, left anterior cingulum, and right middle cingulum in individuals with TN. These values negatively correlated with cognitive performance.

CONCLUSION: TN patients exhibited impairments in multiple cognitive areas, such as attention, memory, executive function, visual perception and executive ability, information processing speed, and motor speed. The metrics ALFF and DC exhibited alterations in TN patients, suggesting that cognitive impairments may be linked to decreased functional activity in specific brain regions. Concurrently, certain cerebral regions may exhibit increased functional activity as a compensatory response to cognitive deficits. These findings hold significant theoretical value and clinical application potential, providing novel methodologies and perspectives for early diagnosis, personalized treatment, and efficacy evaluation. Such advancements are poised to enhance the overall treatment outcomes and quality of life for TN patients.

PMID:40135636 | DOI:10.1002/brb3.70434

Commun Biol. 2025 Mar 25;8(1):488. doi: 10.1038/s42003-025-07876-5.

ABSTRACT

Neuronal hyperexcitation affects memory and neural processing across the Alzheimer's disease (AD) cognitive continuum. Levetiracetam, an antiepileptic, shows promise in improving cognitive impairment by restoring the neural excitation/inhibition balance in AD patients. We previously identified a hyper-excitable phenotype in cognitively unimpaired female APOE-ε4 carriers relative to male counterparts cross-sectionally. This sex difference lacks longitudinal validation; however, clarifying the vulnerability of female ε4-carriers could better inform antiepileptic treatment efficacy. Here, we investigated this sex-by-ε4 interaction using a longitudinal design. We used resting-state fMRI and diffusion tensor imaging collected longitudinally from 106 participants who were cognitively unimpaired for at least one scan event but may have been assessed to have clinical dementia ratings corresponding to early mild cognitive impairment over time. By including scan events where participants transitioned to mild cognitive impairment, we modeled the trajectory of the whole-brain excitation-inhibition ratio throughout the preclinical cognitively healthy continuum and extended to early impairment. A linear mixed model revealed a significant three-way interaction among sex, ε4-status, and time, with female ε4-carriers showing a significant hyper-excitable trajectory. These findings suggest a possible pathway for preventative therapy targeting preclinical hyperexcitation in female ε4-carriers.

PMID:40133608 | DOI:10.1038/s42003-025-07876-5

Neurol Sci. 2025 Mar 26. doi: 10.1007/s10072-025-08106-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study utilizes resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and graph theory analysis to identify key brain regions in vestibular migraine (VM), explore their associations with clinical symptoms, and examine the role of these functional network hubs in the pathophysiology of VM, offering novel insights and a theoretical basis for understanding its neural mechanisms and improving its clinical diagnosis and treatment.

METHODS: We enrolled patients diagnosed with VM, individuals with Migraine without Aura (MwoA), and healthy control subjects, collecting both clinical and sociodemographic data alongside MRI data. Employing graph theory analysis, we focused on identifying critical hub nodes and networks within VM patients, using metrics like degree, betweenness centrality, and eigenvector centrality for our analysis.

RESULTS: The study included 30 VM patients, 28 MwoA subjects, and 31 healthy controls. Analysis of rich-club coefficients across different levels of network sparsity indicated significantly lower normalized rich-club coefficients for VM and MwoA groups compared to healthy controls at a 65% sparsity threshold, particularly within a node degree range of 91 to 94. Notably, the temporal lobes, limbic system, and frontal lobes were predominant regions for rich-club nodes in the VM group, with significant increases in centrality metrics observed in the right posterior parahippocampal gyrus. These metrics in the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus showed a positive correlation with the intensity, duration, and progression of headache episodes in VM patients.

CONCLUSIONS: In vestibular migraine patients, critical hub nodes such as the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus are identified, potentially associated with emotional regulation, pain perception, and the memory of pain.

PMID:40133587 | DOI:10.1007/s10072-025-08106-w

Brain Topogr. 2025 Mar 25;38(3):38. doi: 10.1007/s10548-025-01112-3.

ABSTRACT

Negative symptoms represent pervasive symptoms in schizophrenia (SZ) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Empirical findings suggest that disrupted striatal function contributes significantly to negative symptoms. However, the changes in striatal functional connectivity in relation to these negative symptoms, in the transdiagnostic context, remain unclear. The present study aimed to capture the shared neural mechanisms underlying negative symptoms in SZ and MDD. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were obtained from 60 patients with SZ and MDD (33 with SZ and 27 with MDD) exhibiting predominant negative symptoms, and 52 healthy controls (HC). Negative symptoms and hedonic capacity were assessed using the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) and the Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS), respectively. Signal extraction for time series from 12 subregions of the striatum was carried out to examine the group differences in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) between striatal subregions and the whole brain. We observed significantly decreased rsFC between the right dorsal rostral putamen (DRP) and the right pallidum, the bilateral rostral putamen and the contralateral putamen, as well as between the dorsal caudal putamen and the right middle frontal gyrus in both patients with SZ and MDD. The right DRP-right pallidum rsFC was positively correlated with the level of negative symptoms in SZ. However, patients with SZ showed increased rsFC between the dorsal striatum and the left precentral gyrus, the right middle temporal gyrus, and the right lingual gyrus compared with those with MDD. Our findings expand on the understanding that reduced putaminal rsFC contributes to negative symptoms in both SZ and MDD. Abnormal functional connectivity of the putamen may represent a partially common neural substrate for negative symptoms in SZ and MDD, supporting that the comparable clinical manifestations between the two disorders are underpinned by partly shared mechanisms, as proposed by the transdiagnostic Research Domain Criteria.

PMID:40131502 | DOI:10.1007/s10548-025-01112-3

Environ Health Perspect. 2025 Mar 25. doi: 10.1289/EHP14525. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Traffic-related exposures, such as air pollution and noise, show long-term associations with brain alterations in children and adolescents. The associations with functional connectivity have been studied using static approaches of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) (i.e., average connectivity between regions across the scanning session).

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to investigate the long-term association of traffic air pollution and noise during pregnancy and childhood with functional connectivity across adolescence using a dynamic approach, which captures different connectivity patterns across the scanning session.

METHODS: We used data from the Generation R population-based birth cohort. We estimated levels of 14 air pollutants and traffic noise at home addresses during pregnancy and childhood. We acquired rs-fMRI data at the age-10 and age-14 visits. We included participants with rs-fMRI data in at least one visit and either air pollution data (n=3,588) or noise data (n=2,642). We used k-means clustering to identify 5 connectivity patterns, called 'states', that reoccur over time and across subjects and visits. We calculated the mean time spent in each state for each participant and visit. We performed multi- and single-pollutant mixed effects models adjusted for socioeconomic and lifestyle variables, including the individual as random effect to test the associations between the exposures and the mean time spent in each state.

RESULTS: Exposure to nitrogen oxides, particulate matter (PM), and road-traffic noise was related to differences in the time spent in the connectivity states, both in the multi- and single-pollutant models. For instance, higher PMCOARSE (PM2.5-PM10) during pregnancy and higher noise during childhood were associated with more time spent in a state in which the default-mode network, related to self-referential processes and mind-wandering, shows high connectivity.

DISCUSSION: Traffic-related exposures might be related to long-term alterations in brain functional network organization in adolescents. Further research should explore the potential impact of these differences on cognition and psychopathology. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP14525.

PMID:40131185 | DOI:10.1289/EHP14525

J Oral Facial Pain Headache. 2025 Mar;39(1):148-156. doi: 10.22514/jofph.2025.015. Epub 2025 Mar 12.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study employed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to examine alterations in the brain's spontaneous activity during rest in patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) affecting different sides of the face.

METHODS: We included 30 cases each of right-sided TN (R_TN), left-sided TN (L_TN), and healthy controls (HC). We analyzed changes in amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) values between L_TN and R_TN groups in comparison to HC. We also explored relationships between disease duration, visual analog scale scores, and ALFF/ReHo values in significant brain regions.

RESULTS: Relative to HC, L_TN exhibited increased ALFF values in the left superior temporal gyrus and reduced values in the bilateral middle frontal gyrus. Elevated ReHo values were observed in the left cerebellar Crus2 region, while decreased values were identified in the bilateral middle frontal gyrus and left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus. In R_TN, ALFF values increased in the left precentral gyrus and decreased in the right middle frontal gyrus; ReHo values remained unchanged. Correlation analysis indicated positive associations between disease duration and ALFF value of left superior temporal gyrus, as well as ReHo value of left cerebellar Crus2 region in L_TN.

CONCLUSIONS: This research indicated that both left and right TN patients exhibited changes in spontaneous brain activity during rest. These alterations predominantly occurred contralateral to the pain. These identified brain regions are implicated in pain perception, regulation, and emotional processing, suggesting their relevance to the modulation and adaptive changes of the human brain in response to trigeminal neuralgia.

PMID:40129433 | DOI:10.22514/jofph.2025.015

Behav Brain Funct. 2025 Mar 24;21(1):9. doi: 10.1186/s12993-025-00272-3.

ABSTRACT

Neuroplasticity, a phenomenon present throughout the lifespan, is thought to be influenced by physical training. However, the relationship between neuroplastic differences and attentional abilities remains unclear. This study explored the differences in brain function and attentional abilities between professional football athletes and novices, and further investigated the relationship between the two. To address this question, we included 49 football athletes and 63 novices in our study, collecting data on resting-state functional connectivity and Attention Network Test (ANT). Behavioral results from the ANT indicated that football experts had superior orienting attention but weaker alerting functions compared to novices, with no difference in executive control attention. fMRI results revealed that football experts exhibited higher fractional Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuations (fALFF) values in the bilateral anterior cerebellar lobes, bilateral insula, and left superior temporal gyrus. Functional connectivity analysis showed increased connectivity between the left anterior cerebellar lobe and various cortical regions, including the right supramarginal gyrus, left precuneus, left superior frontal gyrus, bilateral posterior cerebellar lobes, and bilateral precentral gyri in experts compared to novices. More importantly, in the expert group but not in novice group, functional connectivity differences significantly predicted attentional orienting scores. Graph theoretical analysis showed that experts exhibited higher betweenness centrality and node efficiency in the right cerebellar lobule III (Cerebelum_3_R) node. Our findings demonstrate that long-term professional football training may significantly affect neuroplasticity and attentional functions. Importantly, our analysis reveals a substantive connection between these two aspects, suggesting that the integration of neuroplastic and attentional changes is likely mediated by cerebellar-cortical connectivity.

PMID:40128842 | DOI:10.1186/s12993-025-00272-3

Pediatr Res. 2025 Mar 24. doi: 10.1038/s41390-025-04003-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Adolescents with varied growth hormone (GH) levels exhibit height discrepancies. This study investigated the association of height and GH on structural-functional connectivity (SC-FC) coupling within brains of growth hormone deficiency (GHD), idiopathic short stature (ISS), and healthy controls (HC).

METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 79 GHD, 88 ISS, and 37 HC subjects was performed, incorporating clinical, behavioral assessments, and multimodal brain MRI data. SC-FC coupling matrices were derived from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). Group comparisons used ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests, while partial correlation assessed correlations of hormone levels and cognitive scores.

RESULTS: Both short-statured groups (GHD and ISS) displayed reduced hormone levels, cognitive behavioral scores, and SC-FC coupling in primary sensory regions (visual (VIS) and sensorimotor network (SMN)) compared to HC. Bilateral SMN showed the highest intra-network variability amongst all groups. GHD exhibited greater inter-network SC-FC coupling variability than ISS, with HC showing the least. A negative correlation between peak GH levels and SC-FC coupling across multiple networks was observed exclusively in GHD.

CONCLUSION: Height and GH distinctly influenced brain structure-function coupling in children with short stature. Reduced SC-FC coupling in primary sensory regions highlights their vulnerability to developmental variations.

IMPACT: The study demonstrates that height and growth hormone (GH) levels have distinct impacts on brain structure-function coupling (SC-FC) in children with short stature, with primary sensory regions (e.g., visual and sensorimotor networks) being particularly vulnerable. The findings highlight the susceptibility of primary sensory brain regions to developmental variations and suggest that GH plays a critical role in modulating brain connectivity, particularly in the GHD group. The study underscores the importance of early intervention for children with GHD, as reduced SC-FC coupling in primary sensory regions may correlate with cognitive and behavioral outcomes.

PMID:40128591 | DOI:10.1038/s41390-025-04003-2

Sci Rep. 2025 Mar 24;15(1):10116. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-95000-2.

ABSTRACT

Osteocalcin (OCN) is an endocrine hormone that signals in the periphery, regulating male fertility, energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis. It can also cross the blood-brain-barrier and act on the brain via receptors GPR37 and GPR158. In the brain, OCN influences neurotransmitter synthesis of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. OCN's function is related to cognitive and memory performance and lack of OCN is associated with anxiety and depression-like behavior in mice. We used multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including pharmacological MRI and resting state functional MRI, along with gene expression data for Gpr37 and Gpr158 to investigate the physiological effects of intravenously administered OCN on the wild type mouse brain. We found four core brain regions (brainstem, limbic output, association cortex, and basal ganglia) that are highly relevant in all three analytical modalities (i.e. pharmacological, resting state MRI and gene expression) and play therefore a major role in mediating OCN's effect in the brain. This study provides the first imaging data of the physiological impact of OCN on the mouse brain, suggesting its potential role in modulating brain function and its relevance as a candidate for further investigation in anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairments.

PMID:40128223 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-95000-2

Brain Res Bull. 2025 Mar 22:111312. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2025.111312. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the changes in intrinsic brain activity (IBA) among individuals with Broca aphasia (BA) after a stroke.

METHODS: We collected information from 60 participants. The participants were categorized into four groups according to language (Uyghur and Chinese) and BA status (BA and healthy): Uyghur aphasia patients (UA), Uyghur healthy control subjects (UH), Chinese aphasia patients (CA), and Chinese healthy control subjects (CH). Each group comprised 15 individuals. The shifting dynamics and concordance of regional IBA indices were examined via sliding time-window analysis. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted with the IBA indices to test for regions with interactions between language and BA status. Partial correlation analysis was employed to evaluate the relationships between various indices and language behaviors.

RESULTS: Participants with head motion exceeding 3mm translation or 3° rotation were excluded, leaving 9, 12, 13, and 15 participants in the UA, CA, UH, and CH groups, respectively. Seven IBA indices were activated in 16 brain regions in the four groups. In detail, two-way ANOVA revealed a significant interaction between language and BA status in four IBA dynamic indices (amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF), Regional homogeneity (ReHo), degree centrality (DC), and functional connectivity (FC)) in 11 brain regions (P < 0.000). For the other three dynamic indices (fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF), Voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC), and Global signal connectivity (GSCorr)), no interaction was observed among the four groups. However, the main effect analysis of the BA state demonstrated significant differences across a total of six brain regions (P < 0.000). The concordance alterations in fALFF, ReHo, VMHC, DC, and GSCorr in the right calcarine fissure and the surrounding cortex were significantly lower in CA than in CH (P = 0.000), significantly higher in UA than in CA (P = 0.025), and significantly lower in UH than CH (P = 0.000).

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, alterations in IBA dynamics and concordance were observed in individuals from UA, UH, CA, and CH. These findings suggest that the IBA dynamic index varies across brain regions of BA patients with different local languages, providing a novel perspective for investigating brain alterations by analyzing temporal dynamics using rs-fMRI data.

PMID:40127726 | DOI:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2025.111312

Int J Psychophysiol. 2025 Mar 22:112560. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2025.112560. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Individuals naturally make eye movements over time during visual fixation and voluntarily perform changes in eye position. However, the functional implication of spontaneous changes of eye movements remains unclear. Given that visual fixation is commonly used as a baseline condition in cognitive experiments, we conducted an experiment using eye-tracking to test whether spontaneous fluctuations in eye position are linked to sustained attention. Eye-position data were collected while subjects performed visual fixation and a sustained attention task. We found that slow fluctuations (<0.2 Hz) in eye position correlated with slow fluctuations in response behavior [reaction time (RT)] during the sustained attention task. Further analysis revealed that off-task but not on-task slow fluctuations in eye position contributed to slow fluctuations in sustained attention behavior. The spontaneous fluctuations in eye position could predict the behavioral performance in sustained attention. These results provide new insights into the functional significance of eye movements during visual fixation, which should be considered in interpreting the findings of cognitive experiments using visual fixation as the baseline condition.

PMID:40127704 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2025.112560

Psychol Med. 2025 Mar 24;55:e91. doi: 10.1017/S0033291724003131.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Because pediatric anxiety disorders precede the onset of many other problems, successful prediction of response to the first-line treatment, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), could have a major impact. This study evaluates whether structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging can predict post-CBT anxiety symptoms.

METHODS: Two datasets were studied: (A) one consisted of n = 54 subjects with an anxiety diagnosis, who received 12 weeks of CBT, and (B) one consisted of n = 15 subjects treated for 8 weeks. Connectome predictive modeling (CPM) was used to predict treatment response, as assessed with the PARS. The main analysis included network edges positively correlated with treatment outcome and age, sex, and baseline anxiety severity as predictors. Results from alternative models and analyses are also presented. Model assessments utilized 1000 bootstraps, resulting in a 95% CI for R2, r, and mean absolute error (MAE).

RESULTS: The main model showed a MAE of approximately 3.5 (95% CI: [3.1-3.8]) points, an R2 of 0.08 [-0.14-0.26], and an r of 0.38 [0.24-0.511]. When testing this model in the left-out sample (B), the results were similar, with an MAE of 3.4 [2.8-4.7], R2-0.65 [-2.29-0.16], and r of 0.4 [0.24-0.54]. The anatomical metrics showed a similar pattern, where models rendered overall low R2.

CONCLUSIONS: The analysis showed that models based on earlier promising results failed to predict clinical outcomes. Despite the small sample size, this study does not support the extensive use of CPM to predict outcomes in pediatric anxiety.

PMID:40125734 | DOI:10.1017/S0033291724003131