Visual experience modulates whole-brain connectivity dynamics: A resting-state fMRI study using the model of...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Radiology

Background:

• Visual expertise involves enhanced recognition due to domain-specific experience.
• Expertise is linked to widespread neural activity beyond the visual cortex.
• Limited research exists on how visual experience shapes resting-state brain connectivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how visual experience alters whole-brain resting-state connectivity dynamics.
• To model subtle changes in interregional spontaneous connectivity patterns in radiological interns.

Main Methods:

• Functional connectivity analysis using data-driven functional brain segmentation.
• Clustering approach to identify subtle changes in connectivity dynamics.
• Correlation analysis between connectivity alterations and nodule identification performance.

Main Results:

• Radiographic visual experience showed increased integration in visual processing and decision-making circuits.
• Enhanced integration across high-order brain circuits and segregation between high-order and low-order functions were observed.
• Most connectivity alterations correlated significantly with individual performance in nodule identification.

Conclusions:

• Visual expertise develops through interactions between the visual system and top-down factors like semantic knowledge and attention.
• Enhanced local brain functional integration aids specific visual information acquisition.
• Modulation of lower-order visual processing regions helps filter irrelevant details, optimizing expertise.