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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
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Dynamic Inter-subject Functional Connectivity Reveals Moment-to-Moment Brain Network Configurations Driven by Continuous or Communication Paradigms
Published on: March 21, 2019
Shared spatial and temporal principles govern connectome dynamics across timescales
Thomas H Alderson1,2, Suhnyoung Jun1,2, Jonathan Wirsich3,4,5
1Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820.
Summary
The brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Systems Neuroscience
Background:
- The brain's functional connectome dynamics are studied using fMRI (slow) and electrophysiology (fast) but often assumed to reflect the same processes.
- It remains unclear how the connectome supports multiple processing speeds concurrently.
- Recent work suggests distinct neural processes may operate at multiple timescales within the connectome.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if connectome dynamics exhibit shared spatial and temporal principles across multiple timescales.
- To examine the coexistence and organization of neural processes operating at different speeds.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and source-localized Electroencephalography (EEG) in humans.
- Analysis of instantaneous coactivation patterns across six timescales (infraslow to gamma-band).
Main Results:
- Recurrent coactivation patterns (states) were found to operate in parallel and asynchronously across timescales.
- A timescale-overarching spatial principle governing these states was identified.
- States occurred in highly similar sequences across all timescales, revealing a timescale-overarching temporal principle.
Conclusions:
- The brain's connectome comprises multiple dynamic streams operating in parallel at distinct speeds (milliseconds to seconds).
- These streams are integrated by shared spatial and temporal principles, forming a unified system.
- Future research on human behavior and disorders must consider the full range of connectome timescales.
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