Temporal stability of network centrality in control and default mode networks: Specific associations with externalizing psychopathology in children and adolescents

Abstract

Abnormal connectivity patterns have frequently been reported as involved in pathological mental states. However, most studies focus on "static," stationary patterns of connectivity, which may miss crucial biological information. Recent methodological advances have allowed the investigation of dynamic functional connectivity patterns that describe non-stationary properties of brain networks. Here, we introduce a novel graphical measure of dynamic connectivity, called time-varying eigenvector centrality (tv-EVC). In a sample 655 children and adolescents (7-15 years old) from the Brazilian "High Risk Cohort Study for Psychiatric Disorders" who were imaged using resting-state fMRI, we used this measure to investigate age effects in the temporal in control and default-mode networks (CN/DMN). Using support vector regression, we propose a network maturation index based on the temporal stability of tv-EVC. Moreover, we investigated whether the network maturation is associated with the overall presence of behavioral and emotional problems with the Child Behavior Checklist. As hypothesized, we found that the tv-EVC at each node of CN/DMN become more stable with increasing age (P < 0.001 for all nodes). In addition, the maturity index for this particular network is indeed associated with general psychopathology in children assessed by the total score of Child Behavior Checklist (P = 0.027). Moreover, immaturity of the network was mainly correlated with externalizing behavior dimensions. Taken together, these results suggest that changes in functional network dynamics during neurodevelopment may provide unique insights regarding pathophysiology.

Associations Between Resting State Functional Connectivity and a Hierarchical Dimensional Structure of Psychopathology in Middle Childhood

“…This is consistent with previous findings of an association between DMN connectivity and general psychopathology. 29 However, this association was no longer significant when accounting for parental p-factor scores.…”

Adolescent Resting-State Brain Networks and Unique Variability of Conduct Problems Within the Externalizing Dimension

“…For instance, one study examined the network maturation index (i.e., the temporal stability) of these networks in relation to dimensional measures of psychopathology in a large sample of Brazilian youth. Results indicated that the maturity index for these networks is associated with general psychopathology among youth, with a predominance of externalizing symptoms (Sato et al, 2015).…”

“…There is substantial agreement in the literature concerning large-scale functional brain network communities, such as the somatomotor, visual, default mode, and fronto-parietal networks (Xia et al, 2018). The default mode network (DMN) and task positive frontoparietal network (FPN), both related to higher order cognition, have been broadly associated with psychopathology across different diagnostic categories (Elliott et al, 2018;Sato et al, 2015).…”

Key Brain Network Nodes Show Differential Cognitive Relevance and Developmental Trajectories during Childhood and Adolescence

“…Specifically, Marek et al (2015) reported that maturational increase in inhibitory control during early adolescence is accompanied by increased between-network connectivity, in particular within the sensorimotor, visual, and cingulo-opercular networks. Furthermore, temporal variability in cingulo-opercular connectivity has been suggested to serve as a proxy for brain maturation ( Sato et al, 2015b ).…”