Dysfunction of large-scale brain networks underlying cognitive impairments in shift work disorder

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Shift work is known to impact cognitive functions.
• Neuroimaging studies indicate altered brain structure and function in shift work disorder (SWD).
• Understanding large-scale brain network dysfunction in SWD is crucial for explaining cognitive deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify altered functional brain networks associated with cognitive decline in SWD.
• To evaluate the diagnostic potential of these network alterations.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 34 SWD patients and 36 healthy controls (HCs).
• Administered the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and resting-state functional MRI.
• Analyzed within- and between-network functional connectivity (FC) using the Dosenbach atlas.

Main Results:

• SWD patients showed increased within-network FC and specific between-network FC alterations (e.g., VAN-SCN, SCN-FPN).
• Decreased between-network FC was observed in SWD, notably involving the Default Mode Network (DMN).
• Altered FC correlated significantly with immediate memory, visuospatial, and delayed memory scores in SWD.

Conclusions:

• Abnormal functional connectivity in large-scale brain networks is implicated in cognitive dysfunction in SWD.
• These findings offer insights into the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive impairments in shift work disorder.
• The identified network disruptions may hold diagnostic value for SWD.