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Human cerebral cortex organization characterized by functional PET-FDG "Metabolic Connectivity"
Penghui Du1,2,3, Sean E Coursey4,5, Ting Xu6
1Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Brigham, Boston, MA, USA. penghui-du@outlook.com.
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
|August 10, 2026
Summary
This study reveals the brain's resting-state metabolic connectivity (RSMC) follows a clear superior-inferior gradient, influenced by both fast and slow signals. This provides new insights into brain energy organization for future research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Metabolic Imaging
- Brain Connectivity
Background:
- Understanding the brain's intrinsic functional organization is crucial for neuroscience.
- Resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) using fMRI is well-studied, but metabolic connectivity is less understood.
- Resting-state metabolic connectivity (RSMC) offers complementary insights into brain energetics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the spatiotemporal organization of human brain RSMC using [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) functional PET (fPET-FDG).
- To investigate the relationship between RSMC and RSFC from fMRI.
- To explore how RSMC relates to established cortical organizational principles.
Main Methods:
- Utilized resting-state fPET-FDG data from 24 individuals.
- Employed connectivity-based boundary mapping adapted for low signal-to-noise fPET-FDG data.
- Applied network community detection and principal gradient analyses for global organization.
- Examined temporal-frequency components and contextualized metabolic gradients with anatomical and energetic measures.
Main Results:
- Local RSMC showed structured transitions, partly overlapping with RSFC boundaries.
- Global RSMC analysis revealed a consistent superior-inferior cortical gradient.
- This gradient was primarily driven by low-frequency fPET-FDG dynamics.
- The large-scale metabolic organization aligns with known anatomical and energetic constraints.
Conclusions:
- Characterized the spatiotemporal organizational principles of RSMC.
- Deepened understanding of the brain's energetic framework.
- Established a foundation for future cognitive and clinical studies on metabolic connectivity.