Robustness of sex-differences in functional connectivity over time in middle-aged marmosets
Abstract Nonhuman primates (NHPs) are an essential research model for gaining a comprehensive understanding of the neural mechanisms of neurocognitive aging in our own species. In the present study, we used resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) to investigate the relationship between prefront...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Nature Publishing Group
2020-10-01
|
Series: | Scientific Reports |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-73811-9 |
id |
doaj-aa4a71dbbf2c4b7f9115486bfba354e8 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-aa4a71dbbf2c4b7f9115486bfba354e82021-10-10T11:25:00ZengNature Publishing GroupScientific Reports2045-23222020-10-0110111410.1038/s41598-020-73811-9Robustness of sex-differences in functional connectivity over time in middle-aged marmosetsBenjamin C. Nephew0Marcelo Febo1Ryan Cali2Kathryn P. Workman3Laurellee Payne4Constance M. Moore5Jean A. King6Agnès Lacreuse7Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic InstituteDepartment of Psychiatry, University of FloridaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolPsychological and Brain Sciences, University of MassachusettsCenter for Comparative Neuroimaging, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolCenter for Comparative Neuroimaging, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic InstitutePsychological and Brain Sciences, University of MassachusettsAbstract Nonhuman primates (NHPs) are an essential research model for gaining a comprehensive understanding of the neural mechanisms of neurocognitive aging in our own species. In the present study, we used resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) to investigate the relationship between prefrontal cortical and striatal neural interactions, and cognitive flexibility, in unanaesthetized common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) at two time points during late middle age (8 months apart, similar to a span of 5–6 years in humans). Based on our previous findings, we also determine the reproducibility of connectivity measures over the course of 8 months, particularly previously observed sex differences in rsFC. Male marmosets exhibited remarkably similar patterns of stronger functional connectivity relative to females and greater cognitive flexibility between the two imaging time points. Network analysis revealed that the consistent sex differences in connectivity and related cognitive associations were characterized by greater node strength and/or degree values in several prefrontal, premotor and temporal regions, as well as stronger intra PFC connectivity, in males compared to females. The current study supports the existence of robust sex differences in prefrontal and striatal resting state networks that may contribute to differences in cognitive function and offers insight on the neural systems that may be compromised in cognitive aging and age-related conditions such as mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-73811-9 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Benjamin C. Nephew Marcelo Febo Ryan Cali Kathryn P. Workman Laurellee Payne Constance M. Moore Jean A. King Agnès Lacreuse |
spellingShingle |
Benjamin C. Nephew Marcelo Febo Ryan Cali Kathryn P. Workman Laurellee Payne Constance M. Moore Jean A. King Agnès Lacreuse Robustness of sex-differences in functional connectivity over time in middle-aged marmosets Scientific Reports |
author_facet |
Benjamin C. Nephew Marcelo Febo Ryan Cali Kathryn P. Workman Laurellee Payne Constance M. Moore Jean A. King Agnès Lacreuse |
author_sort |
Benjamin C. Nephew |
title |
Robustness of sex-differences in functional connectivity over time in middle-aged marmosets |
title_short |
Robustness of sex-differences in functional connectivity over time in middle-aged marmosets |
title_full |
Robustness of sex-differences in functional connectivity over time in middle-aged marmosets |
title_fullStr |
Robustness of sex-differences in functional connectivity over time in middle-aged marmosets |
title_full_unstemmed |
Robustness of sex-differences in functional connectivity over time in middle-aged marmosets |
title_sort |
robustness of sex-differences in functional connectivity over time in middle-aged marmosets |
publisher |
Nature Publishing Group |
series |
Scientific Reports |
issn |
2045-2322 |
publishDate |
2020-10-01 |
description |
Abstract Nonhuman primates (NHPs) are an essential research model for gaining a comprehensive understanding of the neural mechanisms of neurocognitive aging in our own species. In the present study, we used resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) to investigate the relationship between prefrontal cortical and striatal neural interactions, and cognitive flexibility, in unanaesthetized common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) at two time points during late middle age (8 months apart, similar to a span of 5–6 years in humans). Based on our previous findings, we also determine the reproducibility of connectivity measures over the course of 8 months, particularly previously observed sex differences in rsFC. Male marmosets exhibited remarkably similar patterns of stronger functional connectivity relative to females and greater cognitive flexibility between the two imaging time points. Network analysis revealed that the consistent sex differences in connectivity and related cognitive associations were characterized by greater node strength and/or degree values in several prefrontal, premotor and temporal regions, as well as stronger intra PFC connectivity, in males compared to females. The current study supports the existence of robust sex differences in prefrontal and striatal resting state networks that may contribute to differences in cognitive function and offers insight on the neural systems that may be compromised in cognitive aging and age-related conditions such as mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-73811-9 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT benjamincnephew robustnessofsexdifferencesinfunctionalconnectivityovertimeinmiddleagedmarmosets AT marcelofebo robustnessofsexdifferencesinfunctionalconnectivityovertimeinmiddleagedmarmosets AT ryancali robustnessofsexdifferencesinfunctionalconnectivityovertimeinmiddleagedmarmosets AT kathrynpworkman robustnessofsexdifferencesinfunctionalconnectivityovertimeinmiddleagedmarmosets AT laurelleepayne robustnessofsexdifferencesinfunctionalconnectivityovertimeinmiddleagedmarmosets AT constancemmoore robustnessofsexdifferencesinfunctionalconnectivityovertimeinmiddleagedmarmosets AT jeanaking robustnessofsexdifferencesinfunctionalconnectivityovertimeinmiddleagedmarmosets AT agneslacreuse robustnessofsexdifferencesinfunctionalconnectivityovertimeinmiddleagedmarmosets |
_version_ |
1716829849155272704 |