Global Functional Connectivity at Rest Is Associated with Attention: An Arterial Spin Labeling Study.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Neural markers of attention, particularly the event-related potential P3 (P300), exhibit significant variability.
• Understanding the neural basis of attention is vital for diagnosing and treating attention-related brain disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between brain resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and P3 parameters (amplitude and latency).
• To explore how global and specific rsFC patterns relate to neural attention markers.

Main Methods:

• Ten participants underwent resting-state pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL) perfusion MRI and electroencephalography (EEG) with a visual oddball task.
• Measured brain rsFC and P3 parameters (amplitudes and latencies).
• Correlated global rsFC and specific connectivity patterns with P3 measures.

Main Results:

• Global rsFC was significantly associated with both P3 amplitudes (r=0.57, p=0.011) and P3 onset latencies (r=-0.56, p=0.012).
• Observed P3 parameters correlated with predictions from global rsFC.
• P3 onset latency linked to long-range prefrontal-parietal/limbic connections; P3 amplitudes related to broader network connections.

Conclusions:

• Resting-state PCASL and P3 measures are powerfully correlated, highlighting the role of global functional connectivity in attention.
• Findings provide insights into the neural mechanisms underlying attention and potential biomarkers for brain disorders.