Altered Regional Homogeneity in Patients With Congenital Blindness: A Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Abstract

In patients with congenital blindness (CB), the lack of any visual experience may affect brain development resulting in functional, structural, or even psychological changes. Few studies to date have addressed or focused on the synchronicity of regional brain activity in patients with CB. Our study aimed to investigate regional brain activity in patients with CB in a resting state and try to explain the possible causes and effects of any anomalies. Twenty-three CB patients and 23 healthy control (HC) volunteers agreed to undergo resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. After the fMRI data were preprocessed, regional homogeneity (ReHo) analysis was conducted to assess the differences in brain activity synchronicity between the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to explore whether the brain areas with statistically significant ReHo differences have diagnostic and identification values for CB. All CB patients were also required to complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to evaluate their anxiety and depression levels. The results showed that in CB patients mean ReHo values were significantly lower than in HCs in the right orbital part of the middle frontal gyrus (MFGorb), bilateral middle occipital gyrus (MOG), and the right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus (SFGdl), but significantly higher in the left paracentral lobule (PCL), right insula and bilateral thalamus. The ReHo value of MFGorb showed a negative linear correlation with both the anxiety score and the depression score of the HADS. ROC curve analysis revealed that the mean ReHo values which differed significantly between the groups have excellent diagnostic accuracy for CB (especially in the left PCL and right SFGdl regions). Patients with CB show abnormalities of ReHo values in several specific brain regions, suggesting potential regional structural changes, functional reorganization, or even psychological effects in these patients. FMRI ReHo analysis may find use as an objective method to confirm CB for medical or legal purposes.

Investigation of altered spontaneous brain activity in patients with bronchial asthma using the percent amplitude of fluctuation method: a resting-state functional MRI study

“…The Dorsolateral Superior Frontal Gyrus (SFGdl) belongs to the upper region of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), and it is highly interconnected with other structures in the PFC ( Li et al, 2013 ). It participates in activities of advanced cognitive functions such as visual processing ( Alagapan et al, 2019 ), mood regulation ( Wang et al, 2019 ) ( Johnstone et al, 2007 ), attention distribution, cognitive control tasks ( Hu et al, 2022 ), somatic balance control ( Chen et al, 2023 ) and the plan for sequential behavior ( Mansouri et al, 2007 ), acting as a key node in the frontoparietal network (FPN). Among people with negative emotional distress, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) mediates cognitive control and prioritizes the processing of negative stimuli ( Lee et al, 2007 ).…”

Local gradient analysis of human brain function using the Vogt-Bailey Index

“…Additionally, abnormal ReHo values have been detected in subjects with early- or late-onset Parkinson’s disease [50] and acute or remitting multiple sclerosis [51], among others. ReHo maps can potentially serve as a non-invasive prognosis tool for cirrhotic patients with overt hepatic encephalopathy [52], and have a high diagnostic accuracy for congenital blindness [53]. Real-time fMRI neurofeedback and associated brain function self-regulation were found to impact the ReHo scores of brain regions involved in the processing of emotions [54].…”

Local gradient analysis of human brain function using the Vogt-Bailey Index

“… 2015 ), and have a high diagnostic accuracy for congenital blindness (Hu et al. 2022 ). Real-time fMRI neurofeedback and associated brain function self-regulation were found to impact the ReHo scores of brain regions involved in the processing of emotions (Yang et al.…”