Most recent paper

Hum Brain Mapp. 2025 Apr 1;46(5):e70209. doi: 10.1002/hbm.70209.

ABSTRACT

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a classic serotonergic psychedelic that induces a profoundly altered conscious state. In conjunction with psychological support, it is currently being explored as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder and depression. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is a brain region that is known to be involved in mood regulation and disorders; hypofunction in the left DLPFC is associated with depression. This study investigated the role of the DLPFC in the psycho-emotional effects of LSD with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) data of healthy human participants during the acute LSD experience. In the fMRI data, we measured the correlation between changes in resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) of the DLPFC and post-scan subjective ratings of positive mood, emotional arousal, and ego dissolution. We found significant, positive correlations between ego dissolution and functional connectivity between the left & right DLPFC, thalamus, and a higher-order visual area, the fusiform face area (FFA). Additionally, emotional arousal was significantly associated with increased connectivity between the right DLPFC, intraparietal sulcus (IPS), and the salience network (SN). A confirmational "reverse" analysis, in which the outputs of the original RSFC analysis were used as input seeds, substantiated the role of the right DLPFC and the aforementioned regions in both ego dissolution and emotional arousal. Subsequently, we measured the effects of LSD on directed functional connectivity in MEG data that was source-localized to the input and output regions of both the original and reverse analyses. The Granger causality (GC) analysis revealed that LSD increased information flow between two nodes of the 'ego dissolution network', the thalamus and the DLPFC, in the theta band, substantiating the hypothesis that disruptions in thalamic gating underlie the experience of ego dissolution. Overall, this multimodal study elucidates a role for the DLPFC in LSD-induced states of consciousness and sheds more light on the brain basis of ego dissolution.

PMID:40200796 | DOI:10.1002/hbm.70209

Brain Behav. 2025 Apr;15(4):e70141. doi: 10.1002/brb3.70141.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The identification of relationships between individual differences in functional connectivity (FC) and behavior has been the focus of considerable investigation. Although emerging evidence has identified relationships between FC and cognitive performance, relationships between FC and measures of affect, including depressed mood, anhedonia, and anxiety, and decision-making style, including impulsivity and sensation seeking, appear to be more inconsistent across the literature. This may be due to low power, methodological differences across studies, including the use of global signal correction (GSR), or uncontrolled characteristics of the population.

METHODS: Here, we evaluated measures of FC, regional variance, and global signal (GS) across six functional MRI (fMRI) sequences of different tasks and resting states and their relationship with individual differences in self-reported measures of symptoms of depression, anxiety, impulsivity, reward sensitivity, and sensation seeking, as well as demographic variables and acquisition order, within groups of distressed and healthy young adults (18-25 years old).

FINDINGS: Adopting a training/testing sample structure to the analysis, we found no evidence of reproducible brain/behavior relationships despite identifying regions and connections that reflect reliable between-scan individual differences. However, summary measures of the GS were reproducibly associated with sex: The most consistent finding was an increase in low frequency variance of the blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) signal from all gray matter regions in males relative to females. Post hoc analysis of GS topography yielded sex differences in a number of regions, including cerebellum and putamen. In addition, effects of paradigm acquisition order were observed on GS measures, including an increase in BOLD signal variance across time. In an exploratory analysis, a specific relationship between sex and relative high-frequency within-scanner motion was observed.

CONCLUSIONS: Together, the findings suggest that FC relationships with affective measures may be inconsistent or modest, but that global phenomena related to state and individual differences can be robust and must be evaluated, particularly in studies of psychiatric disorders such as mood disorders or ADHD, which show sex differences.

PMID:40200728 | DOI:10.1002/brb3.70141

Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 8;15(1):11961. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-96163-8.

ABSTRACT

Ischemic stroke is a prominent contributor to cognitive dysfunction and disability. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the neuronal activity and longitudinal changes underlying stroke is crucial for designing effective rehabilitative strategies. However, the neural mechanisms responsible for the longitudinal reorganization of neuronal activity following stroke remain unclear. The objective of this study was to comprehensively investigate potential abnormalities in brain activity among stroke patients before and after one month of intervention (antiplatelet therapy, as well as intravenous citicoline). To achieve this goal, we combined static and dynamic functional imaging indicators for the comprehensive analysis. Twenty ischemic stroke patients at the subacute stage and seventeen age-matched healthy controls were included in the final analysis of this study from one center. Additionally, resting-state functional magnetic imaging scans were conducted on all patients twice with a one-month interval between scans. Four static intrinsic brain activity indicators (static amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (sALFF), static fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (sfALFF), static regional homogeneity (sReHo), and static degree centrality (sDC)), along with their corresponding dynamic indicators, were calculated to detect longitudinal alterations in brain activity following stroke onset. Correlation analyses were also performed between these indicators within areas exhibiting group differences as well as clinical scale scores and disease duration. Significant variations in these static and dynamic image indicators were observed among patients with ischemic stroke. There was substantial overlap among the abnormal brain regions detected, primarily including decreased sALFF/sfALFF/dALFF in the bilateral central precuneus, increased sfALFF/sReHo/sDC/dReHo in the left superior precuneus, increased sALFF/sReHo/dfALFF in the left inferior temporal gyrus, decreased sReHo/sDC in the anterior cingulate cortex, increased sReHo/dfALFF in the right inferior parietal lobe, increased sfALFF/sDC in the right fusiform gyrus, as well as decreased sALFF/dALFF and increased sReHo/sDC in the right angular gyrus. Furthermore, these disrupted image indicators in some regions exhibited only partial recovery at the second time point. The percentage changes of these image indicators (sfALFF in the bilateral central precuneus, sDC in the left fusiform and dALFF in the right central precuneus) between the two time points were positively correlated with the percentage changes of clinical scores (FMA and MBI). In combination, this study demonstrates that a comprehensive understanding of abnormal activity and its longitudinal changes in ischemic stroke can be achieved by integrating static and dynamic imaging methods. Regions showing significant overlap among different brain activity indicators and exhibiting consistent image-behavior relationships may have some potential values for predicting clinical outcomes.

PMID:40200032 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-96163-8

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2025 Apr 8. doi: 10.1111/nyas.15330. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Although loneliness is an unpleasant subjective experience associated with negative consequences, decades of research suggest loneliness is accompanied by adaptive cognitive changes that promote self-preservation and attempts for social reconnection. This review summarizes theoretical accounts that elaborate how loneliness alters attention and social information processing, then reviews whether findings from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies align with these hypothesized effects. We first examined the hypothesis that loneliness should increase general attention to monitor for potential environmental threats. Findings from resting-state studies suggested that loneliness corresponds to greater baseline activity in attention-related regions. Next, we examined the hypothesis that loneliness heightens sensitivity to the social world to protect against social threats and motivate reconnection. Here, studies showed sensitivity toward negative social information increased, whereas sensitivity toward positive social information was stimulus dependent (e.g., strangers, close others). Finally, we examined the hypothesis that loneliness enhances mentalizing to better predict social situations. Although many studies support this hypothesis, the research here is limited. However, studies do find that lonely individuals show idiosyncratic processing of the self and others. To conclude, we lay out future directions addressing some shortcomings of current fMRI studies of loneliness, and provide additional avenues to expand our knowledge of the "lonely brain."

PMID:40198118 | DOI:10.1111/nyas.15330

bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Mar 28:2025.02.11.637551. doi: 10.1101/2025.02.11.637551.

ABSTRACT

This study aims to identify Psychosis Imaging Neurosubtypes (PINs)- homogeneous subgroups of individuals with psychosis characterized by distinct neurobiology derived from imaging features. Specifically, we utilized resting-state fMRI data from 2103 B-SNIP 1&2 participants (1127 with psychosis, 350 relatives, 626 controls) to compute subject-specific multiscale functional network connectivity (msFNC). We then derived a low-dimensional neurobiological subspace, termed Latent Network Connectivity (LNC), which captured system-wide interconnected multiscale information across three components (cognitive-related, typical, psychosis-related). Projections of psychosis participants' msFNC onto this subspace revealed three PINs through unsupervised learning, each with distinct cognitive, clinical, and connectivity profiles, spanning all DSM diagnoses (Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Schizoaffective). PIN-1, the most cognitively impaired, showed Cerebellar-Subcortical and Visual-Sensorimotor hypoconnectivity, alongside Visual-Subcortical hyperconnectivity. Most cognitively preserved PIN-2 showed Visual-Subcortical, Subcortical-Sensorimotor, and Subcortical-Higher Cognition hypoconnectivity. PIN-3 exhibited intermediate cognitive function, showing Cerebellar-Subcortical hypoconnectivity alongside Cerebellar-Sensorimotor and Subcortical-Sensorimotor hyperconnectivity. Notably, 55% of relatives aligned with the same neurosubtype as their affected family members-a significantly higher rate than random chance (p-value Relatives-to-PIN-1 < 0.001, p-value Relatives-to-PIN-2 < 0.05, p-value Relatives-to-PIN-3 < 0.001) compared to a non-significant 37% DSM-based classification, supporting a biological basis of these neurosubtypes. Cognitive performance reliably aligns with distinct brain connectivity patterns, which are also evident in relatives, supporting their construct validity. Our PINs differed from original B-SNIP Biotypes, which were determined from electrophysiological, cognitive, and oculomotor data. These findings underscore the limitations of DSM-based classifications in capturing the biological complexity of psychotic disorders and highlight the potential of imaging-based neurosubtypes to enhance our understanding of the psychosis spectrum.

PMID:40196606 | PMC:PMC11974735 | DOI:10.1101/2025.02.11.637551

Neurology. 2025 Apr 8;104(7_Supplement_1):4101. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000211451. Epub 2025 Apr 7.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to examine the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on language and language network functional connectivity in a cohort of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) patients.

BACKGROUND: PPA refers to a clinical syndrome presenting with language impairment with relative preservation of other cognitive functions. Neuroimaging evidence suggests that the language network, anchored in left prefrontal and temporo-parietal cortices, is selectively affected in PPA. To date, no pharmacological or neuromodulation strategies can satisfactorily improve symptoms in PPA. Focal neuromodulation techniques, such as repetitive TMS (rTMS), can change resting-state functional connectivity in a network-specific manner. Thus, we investigated whether rTMS could selectively modulate functional connections within the degenerated language network in PPA.

DESIGN/METHODS: A double-blinded, sham controlled, cross-over design was used to administer intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) for 10 days in a heterogeneous sample of PPA patients: 4 logopenic variant (lvPPA), 2 non-fluent variant (nfvPPA), 1 semantic variant (svPPA), and 3 with primary progressive apraxia of speech (PPAOS). We stimulated the left caudal middle frontal gyrus region most functionally correlated with the language network on an individual-subject basis. Standardized language assessments were administered at baseline, post-active TMS, and post-sham TMS. Resting-state fMRI data were analyzed to probe functional connectivity changes across sessions.

RESULTS: We found language test improvement following active TMS in areas of weakness for the respective patients: Naming performance in lvPPA; semantic performance in svPPA; and apraxia of speech severity in nfvPPA and PPAOS. Across all subtypes, increased functional connectivity was observed in the language and other networks subserving cognitive performance after active TMS.

CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate preliminary evidence that personalized functional-network guided iTBS can improve language impairments in a heterogeneous PPA cohort. Furthermore, improvements in language tests were accompanied by increases in functional network connectivity, pointing to a putative neural mechanism of TMS-induced benefits in PPA. Disclaimer: Abstracts were not reviewed by Neurology® and do not reflect the views of Neurology® editors or staff. Disclosure: Mr. Paranhos has nothing to disclose. Miss Du has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of Wesleyan University. Ms. Watson has nothing to disclose. An immediate family member of Mrs. Hochberg has received research support from Department of Veterans Affairs. An immediate family member of Mrs. Hochberg has received intellectual property interests from a discovery or technology relating to health care. Ms. Quimby has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rezaii has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wong has nothing to disclose. The institution of Dr. Katsumi has received research support from the National Institute on Aging. The institution of Dr. Katsumi has received research support from the Alzheimer's Association. Dr. Dickerson has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Biogen. Dr. Dickerson has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Axovant. Dr. Dickerson has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Novartis. Dr. Dickerson has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Alector. Dr. Dickerson has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Merck. Dr. Dickerson has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Wave LifeSciences. Dr. Dickerson has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Arkuda. Dr. Dickerson has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Acadia. Dr. Dickerson has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Lilly. Dr. Dickerson has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Elsevier. Dr. Dickerson has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. Dr. Dickerson has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. Author has nothing to discloseDr. Touroutoglou has nothing to disclose.

PMID:40193772 | DOI:10.1212/WNL.0000000000211451

Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2025 Apr 1;21:689-709. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S508747. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study focuses on the asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment (ANI) stage of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Using multimodal MRI and large-scale brain network analysis, we aimed to investigate alterations in functional networks, structural networks, and functional-structural coupling in persons with ANI.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 95 participants, including 48 healthy controls and 47 persons with HIV-ANI, were enrolled. Resting-state fMRI and diffusion tensor imaging were used to construct functional and structural connectivity matrices. Graph-theoretical analysis was employed to assess inter-group differences in global metrics, nodal characteristics, and functional-structural coupling patterns. Furthermore, machine learning classifiers were used to construct and evaluate classification models based on imaging features from both groups. The performance of different models was compared to identify the optimal diagnostic model for detecting HIV-ANI.

RESULTS: Structural network analysis showed no significant changes in the global or local topological properties of persons with ANI. In contrast, functional networks exhibited significant reorganization in key regions, including the visual, executive control, and default mode networks. Functional-structural coupling was significantly enhanced in the occipital and frontal networks. These changes correlated with immune status, infection duration, and cognitive performance. Furthermore, the classification model integrating graph-theoretical topological features and functional connectivity achieved the best performance, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.962 in the test set.

CONCLUSION: Functional network reorganization and enhanced functional-structural coupling may reflect early synaptic and dendritic damage in persons with ANI, serving as potential early warning signals for HAND progression. These findings provide sensitive biomarkers and valuable perspectives for early diagnosis and intervention.

PMID:40190547 | PMC:PMC11971962 | DOI:10.2147/NDT.S508747

Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 7;15(1):11810. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-96850-6.

ABSTRACT

Patients with depressive disorder with migraine (DDWM) are common, yet the neural mechanisms and brain function changes associated with this comorbidity remain partially understood. This study explores regional homogeneity (ReHo) abnormalities in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and cognitive function in DDWM patients. We recruited 29 patients with DDWM, 34 patients with depressive disorder without migraine (DDWOM), and 43 matched healthy controls (HC). All participants underwent rs-fMRI scans, and imaging data were analyzed using ReHo. Cognitive function was assessed with the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status. We also employed support vector machine (SVM) analysis to evaluate whether abnormal ReHo values could distinguish DDWM. he DDWM group exhibited significantly lower ReHo values in the left cuneus and left calcarine compared to the DDWOM group. ReHo values in these regions were negatively correlated with pain scores on the Visual Analogue Scale (r = - 0.3628, p = 0.0001; r = - 0.3142, p = 0.001) and positively correlated with the List_Recall score on RBANS (r = 0.260, p = 0.007). SVM analysis indicated that the left cuneus ReHo value could distinguish DDWM from DDWOM with 78.09% accuracy, 87.66% sensitivity, and 74.33% specificity. The left cuneus and left calcarine are potential biomarkers for migraine symptoms in DDWM, with the left cuneus affecting cognitive function related to memory.

PMID:40189646 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-96850-6

Sleep Med. 2025 Mar 28;131:106482. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2025.106482. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate functional changes in the default mode network (DMN) and glymphatic system in individuals of chronic insomnia disorder (CID) with comorbid major depression disorder (MDD).

METHODS: A total of 112 CID patients and 56 healthy controls with good sleep (GS) were enrolled. CID patients were divided into were further divided into a CID-only group and a group with CID and comorbid MDD. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) assessed DMN dysfunction and its connectivity with external networks. To determine whether comorbid MDD exacerbated the decline in glymphatic function in patients with CID, the diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index was calculated. Binary logistic regression identified key imaging features for diagnostic modeling.

RESULTS: Patients with CID and comorbid MDD exhibited significantly weakened functional connectivity within the DMN. In contrast, the key node posterior cingulate cortex(PCC) of the default mode network showed enhanced functional connectivity with brain regions outside the DMN, including middle cingulate cortex and supplementary motor area. Regarding the glymphatic system, the lower ALPS index in CID patients with comorbid MDD was lower than in CID patients, indicating reduced glymphatic function compared to those without depression. HAMD scores were significantly associated with bilateral Dyproj values (P < 0.001) and the functional connectivity values of PCC_L-SMA_L and TempP_L-PHC_L (P < 0.01). The diagnostic model developed based on these findings demonstrated high diagnostic efficacy for CID with comorbid MDD.

CONCLUSION: The destabilization of subsystems within the DMN may represent the neurological mechanism through which depression contributes to insomnia. Comorbid depressive disorders may exacerbate glymphatic dysfunction in patients with CID, highlighting the importance of early clinical intervention for depressive symptoms in insomnia disorder.

PMID:40188802 | DOI:10.1016/j.sleep.2025.106482

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2025 Apr 5. doi: 10.1007/s00787-025-02709-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescent depression is a prevalent and clinically significant behavior linked to dysregulated peripheral inflammation and corticostriatal circuitry dysfunction. However, the neuroimmune mechanisms bridging these systems remain poorly understood. Here, we combined peripheral cytokine profiling with static/dynamic functional connectivity (sFC/dFC) analysis to investigate the potential influence of inflammaton on corticostriatal circuit related to NSSI. A set of peripheral blood inflammatory markers and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) were collected in depression with NSSI (NSSI+), depression without NSSI (NSSI-), and healthy controls (HC). We first ascertain group differences in level of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. And using ventral/dorsal striatal seeds, we compared whole-brain, voxel-wise sFC and dFC differences across three groups. Further, we tested the mediation effects of connectivity in the association between inflammatory markers and NSSI frequency. NSSI+ group exhibited elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines (C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-1, and IL-6) whereas reduced anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10), compared to NSSI- and HC. Neuroimaging analysis revealed corticostriatal dysconnectivity mainly characterized by static hyperconnectivity between dorsal striatum and thalamus, dynamic instability in dorsal striatum-lingual pathways, and dynamic rigidity in ventral striatum-prefrontal/temporal/occipital gyrus circuits. Critically, sFC of dorsal striatum-thalamus and dFC of dorsal striatum-lingual gyrus mediated the prospective association between altered CRP and NSSI frequency, establishing corticostriatal circuits as conduits for inflammatory effects on NSSI. By bridging molecular psychiatry with circuit neuroscience, this work advances precision management of NSSI in adolescent depression, prioritizing biomarker-driven strategies to disrupt neuroimmune maladaptation.

PMID:40186642 | DOI:10.1007/s00787-025-02709-6

Epilepsia. 2025 Apr 4. doi: 10.1111/epi.18401. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Functional seizures (FS) often disrupt the key regions integral to cognitive processing and emotional regulation (anterior insula, anterior cingulate, and temporoparietal junction). We investigated the potential neurophysiologic mechanism of action (MOA) of neurobehavioral therapy (NBT) using resting-state functional MRI seed-based whole-brain functional connectivity within these regions in adults with FS. We hypothesized that NBT would induce changes in functional connectivity in parallel with improving seizure frequency and behavioral outcomes.

METHODS: Forty patients with traumatic brain injury and FS (TBI+FS) underwent 12 weekly sessions of NBT and provided pre-/post-intervention resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), seizure logs, and behavioral assessments. Fifty-five individuals with TBI without FS (TBI-only) completed the same measures, received standard medical care but not NBT, and functional MRI ~12 weeks apart. For each key region, two-sample t-tests assessed direct group comparison. Repeated measures analysis of covariance assessed how group differences evolved over time and how these changes were modulated by the changes in seizure frequency, diagnosis duration, or behavioral scores (false discovery rate corrected at p < .05).

RESULTS: With NBT, seed-based whole-brain functional connectivity was significantly higher between right anterior insula and left supplementary motor area in TBI+FS compared to TBI-only, and between left anterior insula and left postcentral gyrus in seizure-free TBI+FS compared to those who were not seizure-free. Percentage decrease in seizure frequency with NBT was associated with lower functional connectivity between bilateral insula and left superior medial frontal gyrus in patients with FS. Improvements in behavioral measures did not correspond to changes in functional connectivity.

SIGNIFICANCE: The study underscores the relationship between the changes in resting-state functional connectivity of the anterior insula in FS and treatment response to NBT and illustrates the potential neurophysiologic MOA of NBT for the treatment of FS; it suggests an independence of this MOA from the potential effects of NBT on behavioral measures.

PMID:40183564 | DOI:10.1111/epi.18401

Autism Res. 2025 Apr 4. doi: 10.1002/aur.70037. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The social visual pathway, which diverges from the dorsal pathway at the visual motion area (MT/V5) and runs from the posterior down to anterior portions of the superior temporal sulcus (STS), specializes in processing dynamic social information. This study examined resting-state functional connectivity within this pathway in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) children. Using data from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) repository, we found significant hypoconnectivity between the posterior and middle STS (pSTS-mSTS) in the right hemisphere in children with ASD compared to those in TD children. Lower connectivity in this region of the pathway correlated with more severe social symptoms in ASD and higher indices of social communication vulnerabilities in the combined ASD and TD groups. These findings suggest that a specific disruption in the right hemisphere social visual pathway in children with ASD potentially contributes to their social difficulties.

PMID:40183221 | DOI:10.1002/aur.70037

Psychoradiology. 2025 Feb 7;5:kkaf001. doi: 10.1093/psyrad/kkaf001. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We previously reported lower baseline arteriolar cerebral blood volumes (CBVa) in almost all gray matter regions in a cohort of individuals with schizophrenia of varying ages and disease duration. The extent to which decreased CBVa is also present in recent-onset schizophrenia, and how this impacts neurovascular coupling, remains to be determined. In this study, we sought to determine the extent of CBVa deficits in recent-onset schizophrenia and the relationship of CBVa to region-specific resting-state neural activity.

METHODS: Using 7 T MRI, CBVa was measured in 90 regions using 3D inflow-based vascular-space-occupancy (iVASO) imaging in 16 individuals with recent-onset schizophrenia (disease duration: x̄ = 1.18 ± 1.4 years) and 12 age-matched controls. Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) was used to determine fractional amplitudes of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and intrinsic connectivity (ICC) in spontaneous blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal. The region-specific relationship between CBVa and fALFF was determined as an index of neurovascular coupling.

RESULTS: Compared with healthy participants, CBVa was lower in individuals with schizophrenia in almost all brain regions, with a global effect size of 0.23 and regional effect sizes up to 0.41. Individuals with schizophrenia also exhibited lower fALFF diffusely across cortical and subcortical gray matter regions. Ratios of mean regional CBVa to fALFF and ICC were significantly lower in patients in numerous brain regions.

CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that early-stage schizophrenia is characterized by widespread microvascular abnormalities and associated resting-state deficits in neural activity, suggesting that abnormalities in neurovascular coupling may contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

PMID:40182309 | PMC:PMC11966104 | DOI:10.1093/psyrad/kkaf001

Front Neurosci. 2025 Mar 20;19:1558069. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2025.1558069. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of brain activity changes in patients with post-stroke balance dysfunction and their relationship with clinical assessment, and to construct a classification model based on the extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) algorithm to discriminate between stroke patients and healthy controls (HCs).

METHODS: In the current study, twenty-six patients with post-stroke balance dysfunction and twenty-four HCs were examined by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Static amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (sALFF), static fractional ALFF (sfALFF), static regional homogeneity (sReHo), dynamic ALFF (dALFF), dynamic fALFF (dfALFF) and dynamic ReHo (dReHo) values were calculated and compared between the two groups. The values of the imaging metrics for the brain regions with significant differences were used in Pearson correlation analyses with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scores and as features in the construction of the XGBoost model.

RESULTS: Compared to HCs, the brain regions with significant functional abnormalities in patients with post-stroke balance dysfunction were mainly involved bilateral insula, right fusiform gyrus, right lingual gyrus, left thalamus, left inferior occipital gyrus, left inferior temporal gyrus, right calcarine fissure and surrounding cortex, left precuneus, right median cingulate and paracingulate gyri, right anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri, bilateral supplementary motor area, right putamen, and left cerebellar crus II. XGBoost results show that the model constructed based on static imaging features has the best classification prediction performance.

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study provided evidence of functional abnormalities in local brain regions in patients with post-stroke balance dysfunction. The results suggested that the abnormal brain regions were mainly related to visual processing, motor execution, motor coordination, sensorimotor control and cognitive function, which contributed to our understanding of the neuropathological mechanisms of post-stroke balance dysfunction. XGBoost is a promising machine learning method to explore these changes.

PMID:40182145 | PMC:PMC11965596 | DOI:10.3389/fnins.2025.1558069

J Neurosci Methods. 2025 Apr 1:110438. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2025.110438. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Regional neural response and network properties have traditionally been studied separately. However, growing evidence suggests a close interplay between regional activity and inter-regional connectivity. This study aimed to examine the relationship between global functional connectivity and regional spontaneous activity, termed the global-to-local relationship.

NEW METHOD: Resting-state fMRI data were parcellated using MOSI, enabling multi-resolution functional partitioning. For each parcellated cluster, the mean amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (node power) and its average functional connectivity with the remaining cortex (node strength) were computed. Correlation analyses assessed their relationship. A supplementary analysis was conducted on EEG data (1-30Hz).

RESULTS: A significant negative correlation between node strength and regional power was observed in MRI datasets. One-sample t-tests confirmed robustness across different MOSI resolutions, with individual P values at the level 10-4 to 10-5. The negative relationship was also found in EEG data but was restricted to delta (1-4Hz) and theta (4-8Hz) bands.

COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: This study introduces two key novel aspects. First, it applies MOSI to the entire cortex, enhancing the comprehensiveness of network analysis. Second, it examines the global influence on regional neural activity, rather than limiting the focus to a specific network.

CONCLUSIONS: A robust negative relationship between node strength and node power was consistently observed across both MRI and EEG datasets, particularly in lower frequency bands (up to 8Hz). These findings suggest a framework for investigating how global connectivity shapes regional neural activity, with inhibitory coupling as a potential underlying mechanism.

PMID:40180158 | DOI:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2025.110438

Research (Wash D C). 2025 Apr 2;8:0659. doi: 10.34133/research.0659. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Previous studies have indicated that major depressive disorder (MDD) patients with suicidal ideation (SI) present abnormal functional connectivity (FC) and network organization in node-centric brain networks, ignoring the interactions among FCs. Whether the abnormalities of edge interactions affect the emergence of SI and are related to the gene expression remains largely unknown. In this study, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were collected from 90 first-episode, drug-naive MDD with suicidal ideation (MDDSI) patients, 60 first-episode, drug-naive MDD without suicidal ideation (MDDNSI) patients, and 98 healthy controls (HCs). We applied the methodology of edge-centric network analysis to construct the functional brain networks and calculate the nodal entropy. Furthermore, we examined the relationships between nodal entropy alterations and gene expression. The MDDSI group exhibited significantly lower subnetwork entropy in the dorsal attention network (DAN) and significantly greater subnetwork entropy in the default mode network than the MDDNSI group. The visual learning score of the measurement and treatment research to improve cognition in schizophrenia (MATRICS) consensus cognitive battery was negatively correlated with the subnetwork entropy of DAN in the MDDSI group. The support vector machine model based on nodal entropy achieved an accuracy of 81.87% when distinguishing the MDDNSI and MDDSI. Additionally, the changes in SI-related nodal entropy were associated with the expression of genes in cell signaling and interactions, as well as immune and inflammatory responses. These findings reveal the abnormalities in nodal entropy between the MDDSI and MDDNSI groups, demonstrated their association with molecular functions, and provided novel insights into the neurobiological underpinnings and potential markers for the prediction and prevention of suicide.

PMID:40177647 | PMC:PMC11964328 | DOI:10.34133/research.0659

Epilepsy Behav Rep. 2025 Mar 15;30:100761. doi: 10.1016/j.ebr.2025.100761. eCollection 2025 Jun.

ABSTRACT

This case study demonstrates the value of combined 7 T structural and functional MRI in the presurgical workup of a 24-year-old male with drug-resistant focal epilepsy who was initially considered MRI-negative on clinical 3 T MRI. The patient underwent extensive presurgical workup with 7 T MRI, magnetoencephalography, stereo-electroencephalography, and resection of the suspected right frontal epileptogenic zone. Histopathology showed focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type IIb. The patient remained 11 months after surgery seizure-free. Retrospective analysis revealed that both structural and functional 7 T MRI showed abnormalities within the resected area. Morphometric Analysis Program (MAP18) detected abnormalities on both 3 T and 7 T images. However, abnormalities were more conspicuous on 7 T. Resting-state functional MRI metrics, particularly regional homogeneity and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations, demonstrated significantly increased values in both a MAP18-defined region of interest and the entire resected area compared to a healthy control group (p < 0.05). However, extensive unspecific abnormalities were also observed outside the resected region, highlighting the importance of a multimodal approach. This case study illustrates that advanced image processing of ultra-high field structural and resting-state functional MRI scans may enhance the detection of subtle epileptogenic lesions in presurgical evaluation, potentially improving post-operative seizure outcome and associated quality of life.

PMID:40177236 | PMC:PMC11964652 | DOI:10.1016/j.ebr.2025.100761

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2025 Apr 8;105(14):1111-1115. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112137-20250107-00061.

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the characteristic changes of brain function in children with Tourette syndrome (TS) based on resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) and their correlation with the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) scores. A total of 19 children diagnosed as TS at the Department of Pediatrics in China-Japan Friendship Hospital from October 2021 to April 2023 were enrolled prospectively as the TS group, and 20 healthy children matched for age and gender were field recruited from the community as the control group. All participants underwent head rs-fMRI scans, and regional homogeneity (ReHo) and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) values were calculated. YGTSS scores were assessed for the TS group. Pearson correlation analysis and Spearman correlation analysis were used to evaluate the correlation between ReHo, ALFF and YGTSS scores. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted and area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the efficacy of brain function parameters related to YGTSS score in diagnosing TS. The TS group included 19 patients, and aged (8.5±2.6) years, including 13 males (68.4%). The control group included 20 children, and aged (5.5±1.8) years, including 7 males (35.0%). In the TS group, the ReHo values in the left lentiform nucleus gray matter, left occipital lobe fusiform gyrus, right occipital lobe medial gyrus, and right frontal lobe paracentral lobule white matter were lower than those in the control group. The ReHo values in the pons and right cerebellar tonsil region, as well as the ALFF values in the right lingual gyrus, were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.01). The ReHo values in the right frontal lobe paracentral lobule, right occipital lobe medial gyrus, and left occipital lobe fusiform gyrus were positively correlated with vocal frequency (r=0.466, 0.576, 0.491) and intensity (r=0.498, 0.593, 0.609); the ReHo values in the right occipital lobe medial gyruss (r=0.615) and left occipital lobe fusiform gyrus (r=0.661) were positively correlated with the number of vocal tics (all P<0.05). The AUC (95%CI) for discriminating TS based on the ReHo values in the right frontal lobe paracentral lobule, right occipital lobe medial gyrus, and left occipital lobe fusiform gyrus were 0.890 (0.774-1.000), 0.863 (0.745-0.982), and 0.858 (0.760-0.988), respectively, with no statistically significant differences in the efficacy of these 3 ReHo values for discriminating TS (all P>0.05). Children with TS have characteristic brain function changes, and there is a correlation between the characteristic brain regions of MRI brain function changes and vocal tic symptoms.

PMID:40176659 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn112137-20250107-00061

Adv Sci (Weinh). 2025 Apr 2:e2405700. doi: 10.1002/advs.202405700. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Alterations in cognitive and neuroimaging measures in psychosis may reflect altered brain-behavior interactions patterns accompanying the symptomatic manifestation of the disease. Using graph connectivity-based approaches, we tested the brain-behavior association between cognitive functioning and functional connectivity at different stages of psychosis. We collected resting-state fMRI of 204 neurotypical controls (NC) in two independent cohorts, 43 patients with chronic psychosis (PSY), and 22 subjects with subthreshold psychotic symptoms (STPS). In NC, we calculated graph connectivity metrics and tested their associations with neuropsychological scores. Replicable associations were tested in PSY and STPS and externally validated in three cohorts of 331, 371, and 232 individuals, respectively. NC showed a positive correlation between the degree centrality of a right prefrontal-cingulum-striatal circuit and total errors on Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Conversely, PSY and STPS showed negative correlations. External replications confirmed both associations while highlighting the heterogeneity of STPS. Group differences in either centrality or cognition alone were not equally replicable. In four independent cohorts totaling 1,203 participants, we identified a replicable alteration of the brain-behavior association in different stages of psychosis. These results highlight the high replicability of multimodal markers and suggest the opportunity for longitudinal investigations that may test this marker for early risk identification.

PMID:40176373 | DOI:10.1002/advs.202405700

Brain Imaging Behav. 2025 Apr 3. doi: 10.1007/s11682-025-01002-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Previous literature has indicated that individuals with high trait anxiety have negative bias in forecasting future emotions, but the neural mechanisms underlying this remain unclear. Individuals with high trait anxiety (HTA; n = 38) and individuals with low trait anxiety (LTA; n = 38) were recruited. All participants completed the Social Affective Forecasting task and underwent resting-state fMRI scanning. Compared with the LTA group, the HTA group anticipated lower levels of arousal for future positive events but showed comparable performance for anticipated valence for future positive events. Moreover, the HTA group demonstrated intact performance in reporting anticipated valence and anticipated arousal for future negative events. In addition, the HTA group demonstrated increased functional connectivity between the left ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and left lingual gyrus relative to the LTA group. Besides, the HTA group also showed increased functional connectivity between the dorsal anterior insula and right posterior cingulate cortex compared to the LTA group. No significant associations were found between the altered functional connectivity and affective forecasting performance. Increased functional connectivity observed in the HTA group suggested that HTA individuals may devote more efforts when anticipating future events, to maintain intact in anticipating valence for future events.

PMID:40175853 | DOI:10.1007/s11682-025-01002-z