Associations between nonfatal strangulation-related brain injury in intimate partner violence and resting-state functional connectivity

Examine the association between nonfatal strangulation-related probable brain injury (NFS-BI), resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC), and verbal memory, among females who experienced physical intimate partner violence (IPV).

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was analyzed for 110 females aged 18-60 years who experienced physical IPV. rsFC was characterized by seven graph theory metrics across three brain parcellation atlases (Power, Seitzman, and Schaefer-456 Parcellation[4S]). Responses to the Brain Injury Screening Questionnaire determined IPV-head trauma frequency, experience of probable NFS-BI, and other/additional non-IPV and IPV-related BI. Verbal memory was characterized by three measures from the California Verbal Learning Test, Third Edition: (a) Long Delay, Free Recall, (b) Trials 1-5 correct index scores, and (c) memory retention from Trials 1-5 to Long Delay, Free Recall.

NFS-BI was significantly associated with reductions in within-default mode network (DMN) connectivity (Power: B = -0.03, p = .003; Seitzman: B = -0.03, p = .005; 4S: B = -0.02, p = .03), DMN segregation (Power: B = -0.04, p = .006; Seitzman: B = -0.04, p = .007; 4S: B = -0.03, p = .02), and global modularity (Power: B = -0.01, p = .02; Seitzman: B = -0.02, p = .008; 4S: B = -0.02, p = .007). Interactions between NFS-BI and within-DMN strength (Power: B = -150.05, p = .03; Seitzman: B = -212.11 p = .01; 4S: B = -204.52, p = .002), DMN segregation (Power: B = -106.97, p = .02; Seitzman: B = -114.54 p = .008; 4S: B = -189.88, p < .001), and modularity (Power: B = -373.80, p = .003; Seitzman: B = -367.35, p = .001; 4S: B = -312.55, p = .006) were significantly associated with memory retention.

Those who experienced probable NFS-BI demonstrated altered rsFC compared with those who did not. Interactions between DMN rsFC and NFS-BI were significantly associated with memory retention. Future work should assess individuals with NFS-BI longitudinally to understand its effects on long-term brain health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).