Spatiotemporal functional interactivity among large-scale brain networks

The macro-scale intrinsic functional network architecture of the human brain has been well characterized. Early studies revealed robust and enduring patterns of static connectivity, while more recent work has begun to explore the temporal dynamics of these large-scale brain networks. Little work to date has investigated directed connectivity within and between these networks, or the temporal patterns of afferent (input) and efferent (output) connections between network nodes. Leveraging a novel analytic approach, prediction correlation, we investigated the causal interactions within and between large-scale networks of the brain using resting-state fMRI. This technique allows us to characterize information transfer between brain regions in both the spatial (direction) and temporal (duration) scales. Using data from the Human Connectome Project (N=200) we applied prediction correlation techniques to four resting state fMRI runs (total TRs = 4800). Three central observations emerged. First, the strongest and longest duration connections were observed within the somatomotor, visual and dorsal attention networks. Second, the short duration connections were observed for high-degree nodes in the visual and default networks, as well as in hippocampus. Specifically, the connectivity profile of the highest-degree nodes was dominated by efferent connections to multiple cortical areas. Moderate high-degree nodes, particularly in hippocampal regions, showed an afferent connectivity profile. Finally, multimodal association nodes in lateral prefrontal brain regions demonstrated a short duration, bidirectional connectivity profile, consistent with this regions role in integrative and modulatory processing. These results provide novel insights into the spatiotemporal dynamics of human brain function.