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Functional connectivity in the motor cortex of resting human brain using echo-planar MRI
B Biswal1, F Z Yetkin, V M Haughton
1Biophysics Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226-0509, USA.
Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
|October 1, 1995
Summary
Resting human brain scans reveal that low-frequency signal fluctuations correlate within motor regions. This functional connectivity suggests synchronized physiological activity underlies brain function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Physiology
- Functional Connectivity
Background:
- Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) reveals spontaneous brain activity.
- Signal intensity fluctuations in echo-planar images (EPI) have physiological origins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the temporal correlation of low-frequency fluctuations in the resting human brain.
- To identify functional connectivity within and between brain regions associated with motor function.
Main Methods:
- Acquired 512 echo-planar images (EPI) every 250 ms using fMRI.
- Identified sensorimotor cortex regions activated by hand movement.
- Analyzed temporal correlations of low-frequency (< 0.1 Hz) signal fluctuations.
Main Results:
- Observed high temporal correlation (P < 10(-3)) of low-frequency fluctuations within sensorimotor regions.
- Found significant correlations between sensorimotor regions and other motor-associated brain areas.
- Demonstrated that these correlations persist in resting-state data.
Conclusions:
- Low-frequency fluctuations in resting-state fMRI are physiologically driven.
- Temporal correlation of these fluctuations reflects functional connectivity in the human brain.
- This connectivity is particularly evident in regions involved in motor function.