Different interaction modes for the default mode network revealed by resting state functional magnetic resonance...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Brain Network Analysis

Background:

• The default mode network (DMN) is crucial for intrinsic mentation and external stimuli response.
• DMN interactions differ internally (within the DMN) and externally (with task networks) in strength and timing.
• The linearity or nonlinearity of these DMN interactions remains an open question.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the linearity and nonlinearity of interactions within and outside the default mode network.
• To differentiate the interaction patterns between intra-DMN connections and DMN-task network connections.
• To explore the neuronal principles underlying the DMN's dual roles.

Main Methods:

• Utilized datasets from the Human Connectome Project.
• Employed maximal information-based nonparametric exploration (MIM) statistics to characterize full correlations.
• Applied Pearson correlation to quantify the linear component of interactions.
• Contrasted linearity/nonlinearity in intra-DMN versus DMN-external network interactions.

Main Results:

• Interactions between the DMN and sensorimotor-related networks exhibited greater nonlinearity.
• Connections between nodes within the DMN were consistently less nonlinear.
• A brain-wide exploration confirmed these distinct patterns of linearity and nonlinearity.

Conclusions:

• DMN interactions with external sensorimotor networks are characterized by nonlinearity.
• Intra-DMN interactions are predominantly linear.
• These findings offer insights into the distinct neuronal mechanisms governing the DMN's internal and external functional roles.