The organization of the human cerebral cortex estimated by intrinsic functional connectivity
01 Sep 2011-Journal of Neurophysiology (American Physiological Society)-Vol. 106, Iss: 3, pp 1125-1165
TL;DR: In this paper, the organization of networks in the human cerebrum was explored using resting-state functional connectivity MRI data from 1,000 subjects and a clustering approach was employed to identify and replicate networks of functionally coupled regions across the cerebral cortex.
Abstract: Information processing in the cerebral cortex involves interactions among distributed areas. Anatomical connectivity suggests that certain areas form local hierarchical relations such as within the visual system. Other connectivity patterns, particularly among association areas, suggest the presence of large-scale circuits without clear hierarchical relations. In this study the organization of networks in the human cerebrum was explored using resting-state functional connectivity MRI. Data from 1,000 subjects were registered using surface-based alignment. A clustering approach was employed to identify and replicate networks of functionally coupled regions across the cerebral cortex. The results revealed local networks confined to sensory and motor cortices as well as distributed networks of association regions. Within the sensory and motor cortices, functional connectivity followed topographic representations across adjacent areas. In association cortex, the connectivity patterns often showed abrupt transitions between network boundaries. Focused analyses were performed to better understand properties of network connectivity. A canonical sensory-motor pathway involving primary visual area, putative middle temporal area complex (MT+), lateral intraparietal area, and frontal eye field was analyzed to explore how interactions might arise within and between networks. Results showed that adjacent regions of the MT+ complex demonstrate differential connectivity consistent with a hierarchical pathway that spans networks. The functional connectivity of parietal and prefrontal association cortices was next explored. Distinct connectivity profiles of neighboring regions suggest they participate in distributed networks that, while showing evidence for interactions, are embedded within largely parallel, interdigitated circuits. We conclude by discussing the organization of these large-scale cerebral networks in relation to monkey anatomy and their potential evolutionary expansion in humans to support cognition.
Citations
More filters
TL;DR: Progress made during the first half of the Human Connectome Project project in refining the methods for data acquisition and analysis provides grounds for optimism that the HCP datasets and associated methods and software will become increasingly valuable resources for characterizing human brain connectivity and function, their relationship to behavior, and their heritability and genetic underpinnings.
4,388 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors studied functional brain organization in healthy adults using resting state functional connectivity MRI and proposed two novel brain wide graphs, one of 264 putative functional areas, the other a modification of voxelwise networks that eliminates potentially artificial short-distance relationships.
3,517 citations
TL;DR: Using multi-modal magnetic resonance images from the Human Connectome Project and an objective semi-automated neuroanatomical approach, 180 areas per hemisphere are delineated bounded by sharp changes in cortical architecture, function, connectivity, and/or topography in a precisely aligned group average of 210 healthy young adults.
Abstract: Understanding the amazingly complex human cerebral cortex requires a map (or parcellation) of its major subdivisions, known as cortical areas. Making an accurate areal map has been a century-old objective in neuroscience. Using multi-modal magnetic resonance images from the Human Connectome Project (HCP) and an objective semi-automated neuroanatomical approach, we delineated 180 areas per hemisphere bounded by sharp changes in cortical architecture, function, connectivity, and/or topography in a precisely aligned group average of 210 healthy young adults. We characterized 97 new areas and 83 areas previously reported using post-mortem microscopy or other specialized study-specific approaches. To enable automated delineation and identification of these areas in new HCP subjects and in future studies, we trained a machine-learning classifier to recognize the multi-modal 'fingerprint' of each cortical area. This classifier detected the presence of 96.6% of the cortical areas in new subjects, replicated the group parcellation, and could correctly locate areas in individuals with atypical parcellations. The freely available parcellation and classifier will enable substantially improved neuroanatomical precision for studies of the structural and functional organization of human cerebral cortex and its variation across individuals and in development, aging, and disease.
3,414 citations
TL;DR: It is found that motion-induced signal changes are often complex and variable waveforms, often shared across nearly all brain voxels, and often persist more than 10s after motion ceases, which increase observed RSFC correlations in a distance-dependent manner.
2,713 citations
University of Western Ontario1, York University2, University of Bergen3, The Mind Research Network4, National Institutes of Health5, University of New Mexico6, University of Chieti-Pescara7, Washington University in St. Louis8, Stanford University9, Georgia Institute of Technology10, Oulu University Hospital11, Indiana University12, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg13, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology14
TL;DR: Emerging evidence suggests that dynamic FC metrics may index changes in macroscopic neural activity patterns underlying critical aspects of cognition and behavior, though limitations with regard to analysis and interpretation remain.
2,332 citations
References
More filters
TL;DR: A novel map of Broca's language region is proposed based on transmitter receptor distributions as functionally relevant molecular markers that sheds new light on the relation between anatomy and functional segregation.
Abstract: There is a considerable contrast between the various functions assigned to Broca's region and its relatively simple subdivision into two cytoarchitectonic areas (44 and 45). Since the regional distribution of transmitter receptors in the cerebral cortex has been proven a powerful indicator of functional diversity, the subdivision of Broca's region was analyzed here using a multireceptor approach. The distribution patterns of six receptor types using in vitro receptor autoradiography revealed previously unknown areas: a ventral precentral transitional cortex 6r1, dorsal and ventral areas 44d and 44v, anterior and posterior areas 45a and 45p, and areas op8 and op9 in the frontal operculum. A significant lateralization of receptors was demonstrated with respect to the cholinergic M2 receptor, particularly in area 44v+d. We propose a new concept of the anterior language region, which elucidates the relation between premotor cortex, prefrontal cortex, and Broca's region. It offers human brain homologues to the recently described subdivision of area 45, and the segregation of the ventral premotor cortex in macaque brains. The results provide a novel structural basis of the organization of language regions in the brain.
315 citations
TL;DR: In macaque monkeys, lesions involving the posterior portion of the inferior temporal cortex, cytoarchitectonic area TEO, produce a severe impairment in visual pattern discrimination and the areal and laminar distribution of its cortical connections were analyzed.
Abstract: In macaque monkeys, lesions involving the posterior portion of the inferior temporal cortex, cytoarchitectonic area TEO, produce a severe impairment in visual pattern discrimination. Recently, this area has been shown to contain a complete, though coarse, representation of the contralateral visual field (Boussaoud, Desimone, and Ungerleider: J. Comp. Neurol. 306:554-575, '91). Because the inputs and outputs of area TEO have not yet been fully described, we injected a variety of retrograde and anterograde tracers into 11 physiologically identified sites within TEO of seven rhesus monkeys and analyzed the areal and laminar distribution of its cortical connections. Our results show that TEO receives feedforward, topographically organized inputs from prestriate areas V2, V3, and V4. Additional sparser feedforward inputs arise from areas V3A, V4t, and MT. Each of these inputs is reciprocated by a feedback projection from TEO. TEO was also found to have reciprocal intermediate-type connections with the fundus of the superior temporal area (area FST), cortex in the most posteromedial portion of the superior temporal sulcus (the posterior parietal sulcal zone [area PP]), cortex in the intraparietal sulcus (including the lateral intraparietal area [area LIP]), the frontal eye field, and area TF on the parahippocampal gyrus. The connections with V3A, V4t, and PP were found only after injections in the peripheral field representations of TEO. Finally, TEO was found to project in a feedforward pattern to area TE and to areas anterior to FST on the lateral bank and floor of the superior temporal sulcus (areas TEm, TEa, and IPa, Seltzer and Pandya: Brain Res. 149:1-24, '78), all of which send feedback projections to TEO. Feedback projections also arise from parahippocampal area TH, and areas TG, 36, and possibly 35. These are complemented by only sparse feedforward projections to TG from central field representations in TEO and to TH from peripheral field representations. The results thus indicate that TEO forms an important link in the occipitotemporal pathway for object recognition, sending visual information forward from V1 and prestriate relays in V2-V4 to anterior inferior temporal area TE.
313 citations
TL;DR: Together with similarities in retinotopic organization and topological neighborhood, the functional properties suggest that MT/V5 in human and macaque cortex are homologous.
Abstract: Although there is general agreement that the human middle temporal (MT)/V5+ complex corresponds to monkey area MT/V5 proper plus a number of neighboring motion-sensitive areas, the identification of human MT/V5 within the complex has proven difficult. Here, we have used functional magnetic resonance imaging and the retinotopic mapping technique, which has very recently disclosed the organization of the visual field maps within the monkey MT/V5 cluster. We observed a retinotopic organization in humans very similar to that documented in monkeys: an MT/V5 cluster that includes areas MT/V5, pMSTv (putative ventral part of the medial superior temporal area), pFST (putative fundus of the superior temporal area), and pV4t (putative V4 transitional zone), and neighbors a more ventral putative human posterior inferior temporal area (phPIT) cluster. The four areas in the MT/V5 cluster and the two areas in the phPIT cluster each represent the complete contralateral hemifield. The complete MT/V5 cluster comprises 70% of the motion localizer activation. Human MT/V5 is located in the region bound by lateral, anterior, and inferior occipital sulci and occupies only one-fifth of the motion complex. It shares the basic functional properties of its monkey homolog: receptive field size relative to other areas, response to moving and static stimuli, as well as sensitivity to three-dimensional structure from motion. Functional properties sharply distinguish the MT/V5 cluster from its immediate neighbors in the phPIT cluster and the LO (lateral occipital) regions. Together with similarities in retinotopic organization and topological neighborhood, the functional properties suggest that MT/V5 in human and macaque cortex are homologous.
313 citations
TL;DR: Investigation of prefrontostriatal connections in rhesus monkeys using the autoradiographic technique shows that the main connections from the prefrontal cortex to the striatum are to the head and body of the caudate nucleus, which seems to reflect the architectonic organization of the cortex.
Abstract: Prefrontostriatal connections were investigated in rhesus monkeys using the autoradiographic technique to examine whether there are systematic relationships with regard to the architectonic organization of the prefrontal cortex. On the basis of progressive laminar elaboration, the different regions of the prefrontal cortex can be grouped into two architectonic trends. The dorsal trend, which begins in the medial proisocortical areas, can be followed through the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, culminating in the dorsal arcuate region. The ventral trend, which originates in the orbital proisocortex, can be traced through the inferior prefrontal convexity to the ventral arcuate region. The results show that the main connections from the prefrontal cortex to the striatum are to the head and body of the caudate nucleus. These connections are topographically organized. Medial and dorsal prefrontal areas project predominantly to the dorsal and central portion of the head and body of the caudate nucleus, whereas orbital and inferior prefrontal areas are related mainly to the ventral and central portion. Moreover, prefrontostriatal connections have a medial-lateral topography. Medial and orbital prefrontal areas project medially in the head and body of the caudate nucleus, whereas the dorsal and ventral arcuate regions project laterally, adjacent to the internal capsule. The prefrontal regions above and below the principal sulcus project mainly to the intermediate sector of the head and body of the nucleus. However, there appears to be some degree of overlap of corticostriatal projections from the dorsal and ventral prefrontal regions, as well as within each trend. Relatively minor projections are directed to the putamen as well as to the tail of the caudate nucleus from certain subregions of the prefrontal cortex. Thus the distribution of prefrontostriatal connections seems to reflect the architectonic organization of the prefrontal cortex. Possible functional aspects of prefrontostriatal connectivity are considered in the light of behavioral and physiological studies.
310 citations
TL;DR: The recent work of Lhermitte t21, 221, while it suffers from the customary limitations with respect to patient material, introduces two important innovations: a novel behavioral correlate of frontal lobe damage and a colorful methodology for allowing such complex observations.
Abstract: Few subjects in neurology have been associated with as much enigma and paradox as the behavioral affiliations of prefrontal cortex. While some authors have attributed the highest integrative faculties of the human mind to this part of the brain 11, 4, 91, others have emphasized the surprising paucity of cognitive deficits in patients with substantial frontal lobe damage 111, 191. At least two sources of difficulty are traditionally identified in this area of research: the nature of the clinical material, and the complexity of the behavioral deficits. Much of the literature on prefrontal cortex, for example , has been based on patients with massive head trauma, slowly growing tumors, aneurysmal ruptures, or extensive surgical procedures performed to treat intractable seizures or severe psychiatric disease. The lesions are often bilateral and commonly extend beyond the frontal lobes. The pitfalls of basing brain-behavior correlations on this type of clinical material are considerable. It is not clear why patients with unilateral strokes confined to prefrontal cortex are so poorly represented in the literature. Either such cases are too infrequent, or the associated deficits continue to elude coherent description or perhaps even clinical detection. The behavioral changes associated with frontal cortex damage introduce additional difficulties as they tend to be exceedingly complex, variable, difficult to define in technical terms, and almost impossible to quantitate by available tests. The recent work of Lher-mitte t21, 221, while it suffers from the customary limitations with respect to patient material, introduces two important innovations: a novel behavioral correlate of frontal lobe damage and a colorful methodology for allowing such complex observations. Lhermitte's findings and his imaginative interpretation deserve to be analyzed within the larger context of contemporary research on the frontal lobes. The frontal lobes occupy approximately one-third of the human cerebral hemispheres. The cortical surface of the frontal lobes is commonly divided into three components. The first is a motor-premotor component, which includes area 4, area 6 , the supplementary motor area (medial aspect of area 6), parts of the frontal eye fields (caudal area S), and parts of Broca's region (area 44). Depending on its exact location, damage to this component of the frontal lobe results in weakness, alteration of muscle tone, release of grasp reflexes, incontinence, akinesia, mutism, aprosody, apraxia, and some of the motor components in unilateral neglect and Broca's aphasia. The second component is located in the caudal-basal-medial part of the frontal lobe …
309 citations