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Updated: Apr 15, 2026
Cerebral Blood Flow-Based Resting State Functional Connectivity of the Human Brain using Optical Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy
Published on: May 27, 2020
An Eye on Brain Integrity: Acute Optic Neuritis Affects Resting State Functional Connectivity.
Gregory F Wu1, Matthew R Brier2, Cassie A-L Parks2
1Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States 2Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
Acute optic neuritis (ON) causes immediate brain network changes, impacting visual connectivity and quality of life in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Resting-state functional connectivity MRI reveals widespread alterations following focal white matter injury.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuroinflammation
- Multiple Sclerosis Research
Background:
- Current imaging techniques have limitations in visualizing brain adaptations to multiple sclerosis (MS) related injuries.
- Understanding the brain's initial response to early white matter injury in MS is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of acute optic neuritis (ON) on resting-state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fcMRI).
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 15 patients with clinically isolated syndrome of acute ON.
- Assessment using visual measures (OCT, acuity testing, visual fields) and quality-of-life surveys (VFQ-25).
- Comparison of rs-fcMRI data with age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Observed reduced functional connectivity within the visual system.
- Detected a loss of anticorrelations between visual and nonvisual brain networks.
- Found that stronger visual functional connectivity correlated with better quality of life and visual acuity.
Conclusions:
- Acute ON induces immediate changes in resting-state network functional connectivity (intranetwork and internetwork).
- These findings suggest rapid cortical responses to focal inflammatory demyelination.
- Focal white matter injury in MS acutely leads to widespread network alterations, potentially causing functional neurological changes.
