The functional connectivity of the human claustrum according to the Human Connectome Project database

Abstract

<jats:p>The claustrum is an irregular and fine sheet of grey matter in the basolateral telencephalon present in almost all mammals. The claustrum has been the object of several studies using animal models and more recently in human beings using neuroimaging. It has been involved in cognition and disease such as fear recognition, suppression of natural urges, multisensory integration, conceptual integration, seizures, multiple sclerosis and Parkinsons disease. Nevertheless, the function of the claustrum still remains unclear. We present a high resolution functional connectivity study of the claustrum in order to identify its main networks. Resting state functional and anatomical MRI data from 40 healthy subjects were analyzed; taken from the Human Connectome Project (HCP, NIH Bleuprint: The Human Connectome Project), with 2x2x2 mm<jats:sup>3</jats:sup> voxel resolution, equivalent to the high resolution tractography studies. Positive functional connectivity was found (p&lt;0.05, FDR corrected) between the claustrum and the insula, anterior cingulate cortex, pre-central and postcentral gyrus, superior temporal gyrus and subcortical areas. Our findings coincide with the results previously reported in both animal models and studies with humans. Showing the claustrum as a profusely connected structure not only structurally but also functionally. Evidencing the claustrum as a node participating in a plethora neural networks.</jats:p>

The mystery of claustral neural circuits and recent updates on its role in neurodegenerative pathology

“…Crick and Koch argued that the claustrum performs final integrative processing of input information, through convergence of several neural circuits connected to the cerebral cortex [ 47 , 48 ]. The function of the claustrum is manifested when different sensory modalities are perceived altogether [ 49 , 50 ].…”

Changing the Cortical Conductor’s Tempo: Neuromodulation of the Claustrum

“…The claustrum is thought to participate primarily in two ICNs: the salience network (SAN) and the default mode network (DMN; Figure 3 ; Smith et al, 2019b ). Specifically, the claustrum serves as a link between the anterior insula and the ACC (Wang et al, 2017 ; Chia et al, 2017 , 2020 ; Qadir et al, 2018 ; Zingg et al, 2018 ; Krimmel et al, 2019 ; Rodríguez-Vidal et al, 2019 ; Smith et al, 2019a ), two very prominent components of the SAN (Menon and Uddin, 2010 ). As the claustrum also is connected within the DMN, it is ideally positioned to process sensory-limbic information and use this information to toggle in and out of the DMN like a switch; the claustrum is linked to the recruitment of the SAN and disengagement of the DMN (Krimmel et al, 2019 ; Rodríguez-Vidal et al, 2019 ; Smith et al, 2019b ).…”

“…Specifically, the claustrum serves as a link between the anterior insula and the ACC (Wang et al, 2017 ; Chia et al, 2017 , 2020 ; Qadir et al, 2018 ; Zingg et al, 2018 ; Krimmel et al, 2019 ; Rodríguez-Vidal et al, 2019 ; Smith et al, 2019a ), two very prominent components of the SAN (Menon and Uddin, 2010 ). As the claustrum also is connected within the DMN, it is ideally positioned to process sensory-limbic information and use this information to toggle in and out of the DMN like a switch; the claustrum is linked to the recruitment of the SAN and disengagement of the DMN (Krimmel et al, 2019 ; Rodríguez-Vidal et al, 2019 ; Smith et al, 2019b ). Such toggling is likely a result of selection of different subsets of claustral projection neurons with differing projection patterns (Wang et al, 2019 ; Chia et al, 2020 ; Graf et al, 2020a ; Marriott et al, 2020 ) during a particular state.…”

“…Such antagonism is also apparent in the observation that the serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin strengthens DMN networks and dampens DA-related networks in mice (Grandjean et al, 2021 ). A possible mechanism for 5-HT-associated strengthening of the DMN could be 5-HT inhibition of the claustrum (Wong and Augustine, 2019 ; Norimoto et al, 2020 ), which would attenuate claustral activity and connectivity with the DMN (Barrett et al, 2020 ), thereby strengthening the DMN (Krimmel et al, 2019 ; Rodríguez-Vidal et al, 2019 ; Smith et al, 2019b ). In contrast to 5-HT, DA from the VTA strengthens the SAN.…”

Differentiation of claustrum resting‐state functional connectivity in healthy aging, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease

“…Several neuroanatomical studies point complex claustral connection network responsible for higher order cognitive functions (Wong et al, 2021 ). The hypothesized functions of the claustrum involve attention, cognition, consciousness (Crick & Koch, 2005 ), sensorimotor integration (Pathak & Fernandez‐Miranda, 2014 ), regulating exploratory behaviors (Smith & Alloway, 2014 ), saliency detection (Rodríguez‐Vidal et al, 2019 ; Smythies et al, 2014 ), and establishing new connections on memory and stress. The claustrum influences cortical activity as either an inhibitor or an excitator, especially in supporting optimal behavioral performance under cognitively demanding conditions (Jackson et al, 2018 ; White et al, 2020 ).…”