Aberrant intra-salience network dynamic functional connectivity impairs large-scale network interactions in...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Aberrant functional interactions among large-scale brain networks, including the central executive network (CEN), default mode network (DMN), and salience network (SN), are implicated in schizophrenia.
• The specific factors contributing to these network dysfunctions in schizophrenia remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the dynamic functional connectivity (DFC) and functional connectivity (FC) patterns of the CEN, DMN, and SN in individuals with schizophrenia.
• To explore the role of the SN in modulating interactions between these large-scale networks using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Main Methods:

• Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from 42 patients with schizophrenia and 35 healthy controls.
• Analysis of inter-network and intra-network connectivity using both static FC and dynamic DFC approaches.
• SEM analysis to examine the mediating role of SN connectivity in schizophrenia.

Main Results:

• Individuals with schizophrenia exhibited decreased inter-network connectivity strength and increased time-varying instability.
• The SN showed intra-network functional connectivity and dynamic functional connectivity deficits in schizophrenia patients.
• SN connectivity patterns effectively differentiated patients from controls.
• In patients, dynamic intra-SN connectivity negatively predicted inter-network FC, mediated by intra-SN connectivity strength.

Conclusions:

• Schizophrenia is characterized by systematic deficits in the temporal stability of large-scale brain network connectivity.
• Instability within the SN contributes to aberrant network interactions observed in schizophrenia.
• Dysfunction of the SN may represent an intrinsic biomarker for schizophrenia.