Brain dynamics reflecting an intra-network brain state are associated with increased post-traumatic stress symptoms in the early aftermath of trauma

Post-traumatic stress (PTS) encompasses a range of psychological responses following trauma, which may lead to more severe outcomes such as post-traumatic-stress disorder (PTSD). Identifying early neuroimaging biomarkers that link brain function to PTS outcomes is critical for understanding PTSD risk. This longitudinal study examines the association between brain dynamic functional network connectivity and current/future PTS symptom severity, and the impact of sex on this relationship. By analyzing 275 participants’ dynamic functional network connectivity data obtained ~2 weeks after trauma exposure, we noted that brain dynamics of an inter-network brain state link negatively with current (r = −0.197, Pcorrected = 0.0079) and future (r = –0.176, Pcorrected = 0.0176) PTS symptom severity. In addition, dynamics of an intra-network brain state correlated with future symptom intensity (r = 0.205, Pcorrected = 0.0079). We additionally observed that the association between the network dynamics of the inter-network and intra-network brain state with symptom severity is more pronounced in the female group. Our findings highlight a potential link between brain network dynamics in the aftermath of trauma with current and future PTSD outcomes, with a stronger effect in the female group, underscoring the importance of sex differences. This multisite study detects a link between brain dynamic functional network connectivity and current and future post-traumatic stress symptom severity with a stronger effect in the female group.