Disrupted dynamic functional network connectivity in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) leads to neurodevelopmental deficits.
• Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is associated with reduced white matter volume and impaired static functional connectivity.
• The effects of PAE on dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of PAE on resting-state dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) in children.
• To compare dFNC patterns between children with FASD and typically developing controls (TDC).

Main Methods:

• Magnetoencephalography (MEG) resting-state data were collected from 89 children (51 TDC, 38 FASD) aged 6-16 years.
• Eyes-closed and eyes-open conditions were used to analyze dFNC statistics and meta-states.
• Group spatial independent component analysis was applied to source-analyzed MEG data to derive functional networks for dFNC calculation.

Main Results:

• Children with FASD exhibited greater dynamic fluidity and dynamic range compared to TDC.
• During eyes-closed, the FASD group spent more time in states characterized by anticorrelation within/between default mode network (DMN) and visual network (VN), and states with increased internetwork correlation.
• During eyes-open, TDC favored a state with positive connectivity, while the FASD group spent more time in a state with anticorrelation within/between DMN and VN and strong correlation within other networks.

Conclusions:

• Significant differences in resting-state dFNC exist between children with FASD and TDC.
• PAE is associated with altered brain network dynamics, including increased fluidity and altered connectivity states.
• These findings suggest a global impact of PAE on resting-state functional connectivity in the developing brain.