Distance-based functional criticality in the human brain: intelligence and emotional intelligence

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Brain Imaging

Background:

• Anatomical distance is crucial for brain organization.
• Criticality explains multiscale brain dynamics.
• Resting-state fMRI (rfMRI) measures brain dynamics via functional criticality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of anatomical distance on human brain behaviors.
• To introduce a revised functional criticality algorithm: distance-based vertex-wise index.
• To compare the new algorithm with the original neighborhood-based functional criticality.

Main Methods:

• Recruited young and middle-aged adults (60 datasets).
• Collected rfMRI, intelligence, and emotional intelligence data.
• Defined connectivity distance based on behavioral maps and functional connectivity.

Main Results:

• Intelligence and emotional intelligence map to distinct brain regions across age groups.
• Intelligence shows a broader distance range than emotional intelligence.
• Functional criticalities at different spatial scales correlate with individual behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Established a link between intelligence, emotional intelligence, and functional criticality.
• Quantified individual behaviors using anatomical distance across age groups.