Two common and distinct forms of variation in human functional brain networks

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• The human cortex exhibits a specialized functional organization forming large-scale networks.
• Significant individual differences in cortical organization correlate with behavioral variations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate novel forms of individual differences in cortical organization beyond traditional border shifts.
• To characterize 'ectopic intrusions' as a distinct type of cortical variation.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of neuroimaging data to identify variations in cortical functional areas.
• Comparison of 'border' and 'ectopic' variants based on location, network associations, and task activations.
• Examination of genetic and environmental influences on different variant types.

Main Results:

• Identified two common types of cortical variation: border shifts and ectopic intrusions.
• Ectopic variants occur at atypical locations, distinct from border shifts.
• Border variants show stronger genetic correlation, while ectopic variants suggest greater environmental influence.

Conclusions:

• Cortical organization varies through both border shifts and ectopic intrusions.
• These two forms of variation have distinct properties and associations.
• Accounting for both border and ectopic variants is crucial for understanding individual differences in human cortical systems.