The neuroreceptors and transporters underlying spontaneous brain activity.
Johan Nakuci, Kanika Bansal
Communications Biology July 30, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-08492-z (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 314 |
| Population | Human participants from four datasets |
| Keywords | Neuroscience: brain function Brain activity Brain research Neurobiology Cognitive science Neural science Brain processes Brain insights Neuroreceptors: brain chemistry Neurotransmitters Receptor networks Neurochemical interactions Brain receptors Transporters Brain mapping Neural modeling Predictive models Brain simulation Neuroimaging Psychopharmacology: drug effects Neuropharmacology Drug action Psychoactive drugs Medication effects Therapeutic effects Drug response Neuropsychiatry: brain disorders Mental health Neurological conditions Psychiatric disorders Brain health |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | A neuroreceptor-based modeling framework using PET-derived density maps of 19 neuroreceptors and transporters can reconstruct BOLD brain activity and identify receptor modules linked to distinct brain networks. |
Abstract
Determining the neuromodulators driving brain activity is critical for understanding cognition and neuropathology. Neuromodulators act through neuroreceptors in a coordinated manner, yet their interconnected dynamics are often overlooked. We show that a neuroreceptor-based modeling framework using cortical density maps of 19 neuroreceptors and transporters from Positron Emission Tomography (PET) can model BOLD-derived brain activity. This framework reconstructs activity across four datasets (N = 314) identifying two neuroreceptor modules linked to higher-order associative or somatomotor and visual networks. Applying the framework to independent datasets, we recover the binding profiles of LSD and Modafinil, demonstrating consistency with known pharmacological and neurobiological associations. Additionally, it uncovered associations between neuroreceptors, transporters, and altered brain activity in neuropsychiatric disorders. These findings demonstrate the framework's potential to elucidate neuromodulatory mechanisms and advance our understanding of brain function across diverse states and conditions.
Citations in the library
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