Shared and connection-specific intrinsic interactions in the default mode network
Jessica Samogin, Quanying Liu, Marco Marino, N. Wenderoth, Dante Mantini
Neuroimage October 1, 2019 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.07.007 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 19 |
| Population | Healthy volunteers |
| Topics | Default mode network |
| Key findings | Frequency-dependent connectivity between DMN nodes peaks at 9-11 Hz, with additional higher-frequency peaks specific to each connection. |
Abstract
Electrophysiological studies revealed that different neuronal oscillations, among which the alpha (8-13 Hz) rhythm in particular, but also the beta (13-30 Hz) and gamma (30-80 Hz) rhythms, are modulated during rest in the default mode network (DMN). Little is known, however, about the role of these rhythms in supporting DMN connectivity. Biophysical studies suggest that lower and higher frequencies mediate long- and short-range connectivity, respectively. Accordingly, we hypothesized that interactions between all DMN areas are supported by the alpha rhythm, and that the connectivity between specific DMN areas is established through other frequencies, mainly in the beta and/or gamma bands. To test this hypothesis, we used high-density electroencefalographic data collected in 19 healthy volunteers at rest. We analyzed frequency-dependent functional interactions between four main DMN nodes in a broad (1-80 Hz) frequency range. In line with our hypothesis, we found that the frequency-dependent connectivity profile between pairs of DMN nodes had a peak at 9-11 Hz. Also, the connectivity profile showed other peaks at higher frequencies, which depended on the specific connection. Overall, our findings suggest that frequency-dependent connectivity analysis may be a powerful tool to better understand how different neuronal oscillations support connectivity within and between brain networks.