Functional criticality in the human brain: Physiological, behavioral and neurodevelopmental correlates

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Nonlinear Dynamics
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Understanding human brain dynamics across multiple timescales is crucial for development and disease research.
• The vertex-wise Index of Functional Criticality (vIFC) is a novel neuroimaging marker sensitive to brain transitions in Alzheimer's disease.
• The association between vIFC and neuropsychological/neurophysiological measures in healthy brains requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between vIFC and neuropsychological/neurophysiological measurements in healthy human brains.
• To explore the utility of vIFC as a neuroimaging marker for detecting physiological, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental transitions.
• To apply criticality theory from nonlinear dynamics to understand human brain function.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Nathan Kline Institute/Rockland lifespan cross-sectional and openfMRI longitudinal datasets.
• Analyzed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to calculate vertex-wise Index of Functional Criticality (vIFC).
• Correlated vIFC spatial patterns and temporal changes with age, anxiety, and pulse data.

Main Results:

• Identified consistent spatial patterns of high vIFC in the inferior parietal and precuneus regions.
• Observed an increase in vIFC with age in the left ventral posterior cingulate gyrus over years.
• Demonstrated vIFC's ability to link anxiety and pulse fluctuations on shorter timescales (days/weeks).

Conclusions:

• vIFC serves as a valuable neuroimaging marker for identifying transitions in brain function across various timescales.
• The findings support the application of criticality theory to human brain studies from a nonlinear perspective.
• vIFC offers potential new research avenues for both normal and abnormal brain function studies.