Reconfiguration of the Brain Functional Network Associated with Visual Task Demands

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Network Science

Background:

• Resting-state brain functional networks exhibit complex topological properties.
• Task performance is known to modulate these network properties.
• The specific reconfiguration patterns related to varying task demands remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how functional brain network topology changes with different visual task demands.
• To analyze alterations in network efficiency, wiring-cost, modularity, and robustness during tasks.
• To explore the relationship between task complexity and regional network efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Acquired functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from 18 healthy adults.
• Recorded data during resting-state (RS), visual stimulus watching (VSW), and visual stimulus decision (VSD) tasks.
• Constructed functional brain networks and analyzed topological properties.

Main Results:

• Small-world attributes were maintained across conditions.
• Visual tasks increased network efficiency and wiring-cost compared to resting-state.
• Modularity and network robustness decreased during tasks, with complexity-dependent modulation.

Conclusions:

• Functional brain networks adapt to visual task demands by increasing efficiency and wiring-cost.
• Task complexity influences the degree of topological reconfiguration.
• Visual and working memory regions show increased nodal efficiency with higher task demands.