Identifying reproducible individual differences in childhood functional brain networks: An ABCD study
Scott Marek1, Brenden Tervo-Clemmens2, Ashley N Nielsen3
1Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
|October 16, 2019
Summary
Resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) in children is reproducible, but scanner type matters. This study establishes a framework for analyzing brain connectivity and behavior in large datasets like the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study offers a unique dataset for examining brain development.
- Resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) is a key measure for understanding brain function and development.
- Multi-site neuroimaging studies face challenges from confounding variables like site differences and head motion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize and reproduce RSFC and its relationship with behavior in a large cohort of children.
- To quantify the impact of confounding variables, such as data collection site and scanner manufacturer, on RSFC estimates.
- To establish a reproducible framework for analyzing RSFC-behavior associations in large-scale neuroimaging projects.
Main Methods:
- Utilized resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) analysis on data from 2,188 children (aged 9-10) from the ABCD study.
- Segregated data into discovery (N=1,166) and replication (N=1,022) cohorts for robust validation.
- Quantified RSFC and functional network architecture, assessing reproducibility and the influence of site and scanner manufacturer.
Main Results:
- RSFC and functional network architecture demonstrated high reproducibility across participants.
- Scanner manufacturer effects on RSFC were substantial and reproducible, showing a distance-dependent pattern.
- After controlling for confounds, RSFC between higher-order networks was significantly associated with general cognitive abilities.
- Site effects were minimal compared to scanner manufacturer effects.
Conclusions:
- A reproducible framework for analyzing RSFC-behavior relationships in large, multi-site studies, such as the ABCD study, has been established.
- Scanner manufacturer is a significant source of variability in RSFC, necessitating careful consideration in multi-site research.
- RSFC patterns are reliable in children and linked to cognitive function, providing a foundation for future developmental studies.
