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Variability and reliability of effective connectivity within the core default mode network: A multi-site longitudinal spectral DCM study.

Hannes Almgren, Frederik van de Steen, Simone Kühn, Adeel Razi, Karl Friston, Daniele Marinazzo

Neuroimage December 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.08.053 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

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Characteristics Observational longitudinal reliability study Peer reviewed
Sample size 17
Population Human participants with longitudinal resting-state fMRI data (17 subjects, 589 sessions total)
Topics Default mode network
Keywords Dynamic causal modelling Effective connectivity Longitudinal designs Reliability Resting state Variability FMRI
Key findings Effective connectivity estimates from spectral DCM showed systematic, reliable hemispheric asymmetry within subjects; after accounting for asymmetry, connectivity patterns were very similar across subjects. Processing choices such as global signal regression and ROI size had little effect on inference and reliability for most subjects, and Bayesian model reduction increased consistency of connectivity patterns.

Abstract

Dynamic causal modelling (DCM) for resting state fMRI - namely spectral DCM - is a recently developed and widely adopted method for inferring effective connectivity in intrinsic brain networks. Most applications of spectral DCM have focused on group-averaged connectivity within large-scale intrinsic brain networks; however, the consistency of subject- and session-specific estimates of effective connectivity has not been evaluated. Establishing reliability (within subjects) is crucial for its clinical use; e.g., as a neurophysiological phenotype of disease progression. Effective connectivity during rest is likely to vary due to changes in cognitive, and physiological states. Quantifying these variations may help understand functional brain architectures - and inform clinical applications. In the present study, we investigated the consistency of effective connectivity within and between subjects, as well as potential sources of variability (e.g., hemispheric asymmetry). We also addressed the effects on consistency of standard data processing procedures. DCM analyses were applied to four longitudinal resting state fMRI datasets. Our sample comprised 17 subjects with 589 resting state fMRI sessions in total. These data allowed us to quantify the robustness of connectivity estimates for each subject, and to generalise our conclusions beyond specific data features. We found that subjects showed systematic and reliable patterns of hemispheric asymmetry. When asymmetry was taken into account, subjects showed very similar connectivity patterns. We also found that various processing procedures (e.g. global signal regression and ROI size) had little effect on inference and the reliability of connectivity estimates for the majority of subjects. Finally, Bayesian model reduction significantly increased the consistency of connectivity patterns.

Comparable studies

Other observational and cohort studies on default mode network, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
A default mode of brain function Normal adult human brain 2001 Observational study
Resting-State Functional Connectivity Reflects Structural Connectivity in the Default Mode Network Healthy subjects 2008 Observational cohort
Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls 2005 Observational cohort n = 20
Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls 2011 Observational cohort
The precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex plays a pivotal role in the default mode network: Evidence from a partial correlation network analysis Healthy subjects 2008 Observational study

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