Local-global functional gradients of the thalamus capturing different aspects of thalamic structure and function

The thalamus, a core hub positioned deep in the center of the brain, has a highly complex inter-regional communication pattern. The thalamic functional connectome has received increasing attention, showcasing its pivotal role in various high-order cognitive processes and development. However, thalamic connectome profiles across different spatial scales have not been systematically investigated. More specifically, it is unknown how each thalamic voxel is functionally connected to one another on a local level, and how thalamic voxels are functionally embedded within large-scale cortical systems on a global level. Leveraging the recent connectopic gradient mapping techniques and incorporating our methodological updates, we shed light on the thalamic local-global connectome profiles by characterizing their respective functional gradients. We show that the local gradients of the thalamus primarily reflect its internal anatomical configuration, while its global counterparts predominantly reflect the thalamus's inherent role in supporting various cognitive functions.