Frequency-Resolved Cortical Functional Connectivity Across the Adult Lifespan
Santeri Ruuskanen1, Juan Camilo Avendano-Diaz1, Mia Liljeström1,2
1Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland.
Brain functional connectivity changes with age. Resting-state networks show frequency-specific alterations, with some decreasing and others increasing, impacting sensorimotor function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Human Brain Aging
Background:
- Human brain function relies on synchronized neuronal activity within functional networks.
- Disruptions in functional connectivity are linked to brain disorders, but healthy age-related changes are not well understood.
- Resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) provides insights into brain network organization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-dependent variations in resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) across the adult lifespan.
- To explore the behavioral relevance of these age-related rs-FC changes.
- To understand how rs-FC evolves in healthy aging.
Main Methods:
- Magnetoencephalography (MEG) recordings from 576 healthy adults aged 18-87 years.
- Analysis of resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) across different frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma).
- Correlation of rs-FC patterns with sensorimotor attenuation.
Main Results:
- Significant age-related changes in frequency-specific rs-FC were observed across cortical networks.
- Alpha-band rs-FC decreased with age, while delta, theta, and gamma-band rs-FC increased.
- Beta-band rs-FC showed a non-linear pattern, peaking in middle age.
- Changes in rs-FC patterns were distinct from changes in oscillatory power.
- Reduced beta-band rs-FC correlated with increased sensorimotor attenuation.
Conclusions:
- Resting-state functional connectivity exhibits significant, frequency-dependent changes throughout healthy adulthood.
- These age-related alterations in brain networks are behaviorally relevant, particularly for sensorimotor integration.
- The study provides a comprehensive map of healthy brain aging and its impact on functional connectivity.
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