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Eyes-closed versus eyes-open differences in spontaneous neural dynamics during development
Nathan M Petro1, Lauren R Ott1, Samantha H Penhale1
1Boys Town National Research Hospital, Institute for Human Neuroscience, 378 Bucher Circle, Boys Town, NE 68010, USA.
Neuroimage
|May 31, 2022
Summary
Resting brain activity differs between eyes-open and eyes-closed states, impacting neural activity, particularly in visual cortices. These findings reveal distinct brain states and developmental changes in attention processes.
Area of Science:
- Developmental neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
- Brain activity analysis
Background:
- Resting brain activity assessment is crucial in developmental neuroscience.
- Previous studies have not fully characterized differences between eyes-open and eyes-closed resting states.
- Existing research using fMRI and EEG suggests differential neural impacts of these conditions, especially in visual cortices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the differences in spontaneous cortical activity between eyes-open and eyes-closed resting states in youth.
- To investigate age and sex-related variations in these differences.
- To determine if resting-state conditions differentially impact neural activity.
Main Methods:
- Magnetoencephalography (MEG) recorded spontaneous cortical activity in 108 typically developing youth (9-15 years).
- MEG source images were analyzed for neural activity strength across delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma bands.
- Vertex-wise regression models identified differences between eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions, considering age and sex.
Main Results:
- Relative alpha power was lower in the eyes-open condition compared to eyes-closed.
- Eyes-open conditions showed stronger activity in other frequency bands, primarily in the occipital cortex.
- Increased age correlated with stronger relative theta power in the eyes-open condition within the frontal cortex; no sex differences were found.
Conclusions:
- Differences between eyes-open and eyes-closed resting states align with task-based visual sensory responses.
- Age-related differences in frontal regions suggest developmental changes in attention processes during puberty.
- Eyes-open and eyes-closed resting-state paradigms yield distinct results, aiding in the identification of sensory-related brain activity.
