There is no single functional atlas even for a single individual: Functional parcel definitions change with task

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging
• Computational Neuroscience

Background:

• Human brain mapping aims to identify functional brain regions and their roles.
• Functional atlases are crucial for network-level analysis of brain connectivity using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI).
• Current functional atlases are based on the assumption of a stable brain organization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the stability of functional brain parcellations derived from fMRI data.
• To determine if functional brain organization changes based on the brain's state.
• To challenge the assumption of a fixed functional brain atlas.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data from a highly sampled subject.
• Utilized two independent replication datasets.
• Applied functional connectivity approaches for whole-brain parcellation.

Main Results:

• Functional parcellations derived from fMRI connectivity data exhibit substantial reconfiguration.
• These changes in brain parcellation are meaningful and state-dependent.
• Demonstrated that brain functional organization is dynamic, not static.

Conclusions:

• The assumption of a single, static functional brain atlas is challenged.
• Functional brain organization is dynamic and varies with brain state.
• Future brain mapping efforts should account for state-dependent functional reconfiguration.