Dynamic neural activity alterations and associated neurotransmitter profiles in children with monocular amblyopia

To investigate the alterations in dynamic neural activity in the visual cortex in children with monocular amblyopia and its correlation with neurotransmitter profiles.

A total of 61 participants with amblyopia (thirty right eye amblyopia, thirty-one left eye amblyopia) and 30 individuals with normal vision were recruited. The dynamic functional changes in brain areas, dynamic amplitude of low‑frequency fluctuations (dALFF) serves as the primary index. Spatial correlation between dALFF changes and neurotransmitter imaging was also examined.

Abnormal dALFF changes in the left and right lingual gyrus, the left and right middle occipital gyrus, the right calcarine fissure and surrounding cortex, and the left cuneus. The dALFF variation in lingual and middle occipital gyrus are negatively correlated with visual acuity and best-corrected visual acuity. Furthermore, cross-modal correlations displayed that there was a significant correlation between intergroup functional effect map and neurotransmitter densities.

The results of this study reveal dynamic alterations in neural activity within the visual brain regions, along with corresponding neurotransmitter levels, providing insights into the neural basis of monocular amblyopia.