The individuality of single-frame functional brain connectivity

Abstract

AbstractConverging evidence from studies on brain network "fingerprinting" and precision functional mapping suggest that brain networks are highly individualized in functionally meaningful ways. Concurrently with a growth in studies on this topic, there has been a rise in interest on dynamics (approximately second-to-second changes) in brain networks within scan sessions. While analyses of traditional static networks have increasingly grown towards emphasizing the importance of individual differences in brain network topology, studies of dynamic networks typically follow methodology that require brain states to be considered at a group level. Recent studies have begun to assess the individuality of recurring dynamic brain "states". In this work, we extend this recent work by exploring the extent to which functional connectivity fingerprinting is feasible at single-frame temporal resolution. We estimate connectivity at individual volumes using phase coherence. We find that the identity of participants can be classified based on single volumes given sufficient database scan data and that having more highly parcellated atlases facilitates identification. Finally, we find that tasks can be identified more readily within subjects than between subjects. We conclude that participant identity may be an important driver of observed single-volume connectivity patterns. Further, the single-volume neural correlates of a task appear to be more consistent within subjects than between subjects. This highlights the importance of considering individual variability in studies of brain network dynamics.