Uncovering intrinsic connectional architecture of functional networks in awake rat brain.
Uncovering intrinsic connectional architecture of functional networks in awake rat brain.
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DOI：
10.1523/jneurosci.4557-10.2011
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发表时间：
2011-03-09
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Zhang N
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Liang Z;King J;Zhang N
大脑的内在连接结构是理解大脑组织的主导原则的关键因素。到目前为止，巨大的努力已经集中在解决这个问题，在人类结合静息态功能磁共振成像（rsfMRI）与其他技术。然而，这一研究领域在动物中的探索明显不足，这可能是由于大多数动物实验中使用的麻醉剂对功能连接的混淆效应。为了弥补这一差距，我们系统地研究了内在的连接结构在啮齿动物大脑中使用先前建立的清醒动物成像模型。首先，对rsfMRI数据进行组独立成分分析，提取大脑的基本功能簇。通过偏相关分析评估这些簇之间的连接关系，然后用于构建全脑神经网络图。这个网络表现出典型的小世界性和强社区结构的特征，如人类大脑所示。最后，使用基于图的分析将全脑网络分离成社区结构。这项工作的结果提供了一个功能的'图集'的内在连接架构的大鼠大脑在内部和区域间的水平。更重要的是，目前的工作表明，大鼠的功能网络是以一种非平凡的方式组织起来的，并且与人脑一样保留了基本的拓扑特性。鉴于大脑网络组织的高度精神病理学相关性，本研究证明了通过转化研究研究多种神经和精神疾病的机制和治疗的可行性。
Intrinsic connectional architecture of the brain is a crucial element in understanding the governing principle of brain organization. To date, enormous effort has been focused on addressing this issue in humans by combining resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) with other techniques. However, this research area is significantly underexplored in animals, perhaps due to confounding effects of anesthetic agents used in most animal experiments on functional connectivity. To bridge this gap, we have systematically investigated the intrinsic connectional architecture in the rodent brain by using a previously established awake animal imaging model. First, group independent component analysis was applied to the rsfMRI data to extract elementary functional clusters of the brain. The connectional relationships between these clusters evaluated by partial correlation analysis were then used to construct a graph of whole-brain neural network. This network exhibited typical features of small-worldness and strong community structures as shown in the human brain. Finally, the whole-brain network was segregated into community structures using a graph-based analysis. The results of this work provided a functional ‘atlas’ of intrinsic connectional architecture of the rat brain at both intra- and inter-region levels. More importantly, the current work revealed that functional networks in rats are organized in a non-trivial manner and conserved fundamental topological properties as the human brain. Given the high psychopathological relevance of network organization of the brain, this study demonstrated the feasibility to study mechanisms and therapies of multiple neurological and psychiatric diseases through translational research.