Mapping the functional connectivity of the substantia nigra, red nucleus and dentate nucleus: A network analysis hypothesis associated with the extrapyramidal system.
This study aimed to examine the functional networks related to the extrapyramidal system using a temporal oscillation signal correlation analysis method based on critical nodes in the substantia nigra (SN), red nucleus (RN) and dentate nucleus (DN). Nineteen healthy subjects underwent resting-state fMRI and susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI). For the brain network analysis, the SN, RN and DN were positioned on susceptibility weighted images and used as seeds for temporal correlations analyzed via BOLD data. T-tests were performed for the correlation coefficients of each seed. We demonstrated that the SN, RN and DN were functionally connected to each other, and, in general, their connectivity maps overlapped in a series of subcortical extrapyramidal structures and regions of cerebral cortices. A Granger causality analysis indicated that the effective connectivity graphs within extrapyramidal structures mainly exhibited a spacial up-down pattern for the positive and negative influences, respectively. Our findings suggest that extensive regions involved in the extrapyramidal system constituted a relatively exclusive network via spatial-temporal correlation signals that analogously corresponded to the anatomical structures. The investigation of extrapyramidal system networks may have potential clinical implications.
Department of Radiology, Subei People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China.
Hong-Ying
HY
Zhang
Medical Experimental Center, Subei People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China.
Hui
H
Tang
Department of Radiology, Subei People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China.
Wen-Xin
WX
Chen
Hangzhou Normal University, Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, Hangzhou 310015, China.
Gong-Jun
GJ
Ji
Department of Radiology, Subei People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China.
Jing
J
Ye
Department of Radiology, Subei People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China.
Ning
N
Wang
Department of Radiology, Subei People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China. Electronic address: wujingtaodoctor@126.com.
Jing-Tao
JT
Wu
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Subei People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China. Electronic address: aliceguan0685@sina.com.
Bing
B
Guan
D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002529:Cerebellar Nuclei / Q000502:physiology*; D005116:Extrapyramidal Tracts / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012012:Red Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
Brain networks; Extrapyramidal system; Functional MRI; Low frequency fluctuations