Reliability map of individual differences reflected in inter-subject correlation in naturalistic imaging

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Understanding individual differences in brain function is crucial for neuroscience.
• Naturalistic imaging links neural activity to real-life contexts, reflecting individual brain responses.
• This paradigm shows potential for individualized psychiatry, but requires reliable inter-individual relationship representation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the reliability of naturalistic imaging in representing inter-individual differences.
• To identify brain regions with superior capability for reliable representation.
• To determine if this capability is affected by stimulus content.

Main Methods:

• A test-retest approach was used with two movie clips (natural view, emotional story).
• Inter-subject relationship reliability was quantified across repeated scans.
• Resting-state scans, behavioral tests, and questionnaires served as comparative references.

Main Results:

• Over one-third of the brain reliably characterized inter-individual relationships.
• The superior temporal lobe showed reliability comparable to the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory.
• Temporal lobe regions maintained representational capability across different emotional movie contents.

Conclusions:

• Naturalistic imaging reliably represents inter-individual differences in brain function.
• The temporal lobe is a reliable target region for naturalistic imaging studies.
• This paradigm is a promising tool for advancing individualized psychiatry.