Dynamic analysis of the ageing functional brain

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) in resting-state fMRI holds promise to delivercandidate biomarkers for prediction of brain function in health and disease. However,the reliability and interpretability of dFC metrics remain contested. Moreover, thesehave not been properly validated in a pre-clinical context (e.g. rodents) and integratedwith ancillary neurobiological endpoints. Using a complexity-science approach, theproject will quantify brain function using a large battery of phase-based dFC metrics.These will include tools originated from dynamical systems, stochastic and informationdynamics approaches. Moreover, these metrics will be used to form novel descriptionsof rodent brain function during the life-cycle at the meso- and macro-scale. We are in aunique position to fulfil the ambition of this project as, thanks to a 3-year BBSRCfunded project, we have already completed the longitudinal acquisition of structuraland functional MRI data over n=70 rats that were followed for two years with at least 4imaging points each. An "active lifestyle" sub-group also underwent environmentalenrichment and dietary restriction between their early and late life. We have alreadyshown that machine learning applied to structural data can predict life-span in thiscohort (Busini et al., 2022). We now plan to develop even more accurate predictorsfrom fMRI data. The PhD student will have the support of the staff of the NeuroimagingDepartment and of BRAIN, our preclinical imaging centre and in particular. 1stSupervisor: Prof Turkheimer has a focused interest in the development of brainfunctional markers and leads experimentation, data acquisition and analytics in thisarea. 2nd Supervisor: Dr Paul Expert is a physicist with an interest in complex systemsand modelling of brain function using networks and statistical learning 3rd Supervisor:Dr Diana Cash is preclinical scientist and expert in MRI, PET and methods such asbehaviour, histology, and autoradiography in rodents