Altered resting-state network connectivity in congenital blind

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Congenital blindness (CB) leads to structural and functional brain changes.
• Understanding alterations in resting-state networks (RSNs) in CB is limited.
• Compensatory plasticity is crucial for environmental interaction in CB.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate intra- and internetwork connectivity differences in CB versus sighted controls (SC).
• Utilize resting-state functional MRI and independent component analysis (ICA).
• Examine functional architecture of RSNs in CB.

Main Methods:

• Resting-state functional MRI data acquisition.
• Independent Component Analysis (ICA) for RSN identification.
• Comparison of intra- and internetwork connectivity between CB and SC groups.

Main Results:

• CB exhibited increased connectivity within the salience network (SN) and occipital cortex compared to SC.
• Enhanced internetwork connectivity was observed between SN and frontoparietal network (FPN), and between FPN and occipital cortex in CB.
• Decreased internetwork connectivity between the occipital cortex and sensorimotor network was found in CB.

Conclusions:

• CB brains undergo large-scale functional network reorganization.
• Enhanced connectivity in SN, FPN, and occipital cortex may support stimulus identification, executive function, and attention control in CB.
• These neural adaptations are critical for behavioral guidance and environmental adaptation in individuals with congenital blindness.