Predicting individual brain maturity using dynamic functional connectivity

• Main Authors: Jian eQin, Shan-Guang eChen, Dewen eHu, Ling-Li eZeng, Yi-Ming eFan, Xiao-Ping eChen, Hui eShen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2015-07-01
• Series: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
• Subjects: development; fMRI; Low-frequency fluctuation; functional connectivity; multivariate pattern analysis
• Online Access: http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00418/full

Neuroimaging-based functional connectivity (FC) analyses have revealed significant developmental trends in specific intrinsic connectivity networks linked to cognitive and behavioral maturation. However, knowledge of how brain functional maturation is associated with FC dynamics at rest is limited. Here, we examined age-related differences in the temporal variability of FC dynamics with data publicly released by the Nathan Kline Institute (NKI) (n=183, ages 7-30) and showed that dynamic inter-region interactions can be used to accurately predict individual brain maturity across development. Furthermore, we identified a significant age-dependent trend underlying dynamic inter-network FC, including increasing variability of the connections between the visual network, default mode network (DMN) and cerebellum as well as within the cerebellum and DMN and decreasing variability within the cerebellum and between the cerebellum and DMN as well as the cingulo-opercular network. Overall, the results suggested significant developmental changes in dynamic inter-network interaction, which may shed new light on the functional organization of typical developmental brains.