Sex effects on dynamic structure-function coupling of intrinsic brain network.

IF 2.4 3区医学 Q2 NEUROIMAGING

Brain Imaging and Behavior Pub Date : 2025-06-26 DOI:10.1007/s11682-025-01036-3

Xi Zhang, Dandan Li, Yuting Yuan, Xuebing Han, Lan Yang, Jiayu Lu, Ting Li, Zhifeng Li, Bin Wang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Sex differences in static structure-function coupling between structural connectivity (SC) and functional connectivity (FC) have been documented. However, the human brain is highly dynamic, and static coupling fails to capture the time-varying properties of neural activity. It remains unclear how sex influences dynamic SC-FC coupling over time. Moreover, intrinsic functional networks represent a core feature of brain organization. Here, we quantified sex differences in dynamic FC strength and SC-FC coupling at the intrinsic functional network level using a sliding window approach. Using two window sizes (50 TRs and 30 TRs), we constructed dynamic FC networks and identified hyper-connected and hypo-connected states via k-means clustering. The results showed females performed higher whole-brain SC-FC coupling in hyper-connected state. Specifically, females exhibited higher FC strength and coupling in systems related default mode network in this state. In addition, females exhibited higher FC strength and coupling in systems related limbic/paralimbic and subcortical network in hypo-connected state. Males exhibited higher FC strength and coupling in systems related somatosensory/motor and auditory network in hyper-connected state. Finally, sex-specific patterns in correlations were shown between SC-FC coupling and cognitive performance in distinct states. This study provides new insights into sex-related effects on the neurodevelopmental basis of cognitive function through the perspective of dynamic SC-FC coupling.

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性别对脑内网络动态结构-功能耦合的影响。

结构连通性（SC）和功能连通性（FC）在静态结构-功能耦合中的性别差异已被证实。然而，人类大脑是高度动态的，静态耦合无法捕捉神经活动的时变特性。性别如何随时间影响SC-FC动态耦合尚不清楚。此外，内在功能网络代表了大脑组织的核心特征。在这里，我们使用滑动窗口方法量化了内在功能网络水平上动态FC强度和SC-FC耦合的性别差异。使用两种窗口大小（50个TRs和30个TRs），我们构建了动态FC网络，并通过k-means聚类识别了超连接和次连接状态。结果表明，在超连接状态下，女性全脑SC-FC耦合更高。具体来说，雌性在这种状态下表现出更高的FC强度和系统相关默认模式网络的耦合性。此外，在低连接状态下，女性在边缘/旁边缘和皮层下网络相关系统中表现出更高的FC强度和耦合。在超连接状态下，雄性在体感/运动和听觉网络相关系统中表现出更高的FC强度和耦合。最后，在不同状态下，SC-FC耦合与认知表现之间存在性别特异性的相关模式。本研究从SC-FC动态耦合的角度，为性别对认知功能神经发育基础的影响提供了新的见解。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Brain Imaging and Behavior 医学-神经成像

CiteScore

7.20

自引率

0.00%

发文量

154

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： Brain Imaging and Behavior is a bi-monthly, peer-reviewed journal, that publishes clinically relevant research using neuroimaging approaches to enhance our understanding of disorders of higher brain function. The journal is targeted at clinicians and researchers in fields concerned with human brain-behavior relationships, such as neuropsychology, psychiatry, neurology, neurosurgery, rehabilitation, and cognitive neuroscience.