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Abstract Objective. Spontaneous fluctuations of cerebral hemodynamics measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) are widely used to study the network organization of the brain. The temporal correlations among the ultra-slow, <0.1 Hz fluctuations across the brain regions are interpreted as functional connectivity maps and used for diagnostics of neurological disorders. However, despite the interest narrowed in the ultra-slow fluctuations, hemodynamic activity that exists beyond the ultra-slow frequency range could contribute to the functional connectivity, which remains unclear.Approach. In the present study, we have measured the brain-wide hemodynamics in the human participants with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in a whole-head, cap-based and high-density montage at a sampling rate of 6.25 Hz. In addition, we have acquired resting state fMRI scans in the same group of participants for cross-modal evaluation of the connectivity maps. Then fNIRS data were deliberately down-sampled to a typical fMRI sampling rate of ∼0.5 Hz and the resulted differential connectivity maps were subject to a k-means clustering.Main results. Our diffuse optical topographical analysis of fNIRS data have revealed a default mode network (DMN) in the spontaneous deoxygenated and oxygenated hemoglobin changes, which remarkably resemble the same fMRI network derived from participants. Moreover, we have shown that the aliased activities in the down-sampled optical signals have altered the connectivity patterns, resulting in a network organization of aliased functional connectivity in the cerebral hemodynamics.Significance.The results have for the first time demonstrated that fNIRS as a broadly accessible modality can image the resting-state functional connectivity in the posterior midline, prefrontal and parietal structures of the DMN in the human brain, in a consistent pattern with fMRI. Further empowered by the fast sampling rate of fNIRS, our findings suggest the presence of aliased connectivity in the current understanding of the human brain organization.
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This content will become publicly available on March 1, 2026
Forming Connections: Functional Brain Connectivity is Associated With Executive Functioning Abilities in Early Childhood
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies with adults provide evidence that functional brain networks, including the default mode network and frontoparietal network, underlie executive functioning (EF). However, given the challenges of using fMRI with infants and young children, little work has assessed the developmental trajectories of these networks or their associations with EF at key developmental stages. More recently, functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has emerged as a promising neuroimaging tool which can provide information on cortical functional networks and can be more easily implemented with young children. Children (N= 207;n= 116 male;n= 167 White) had fNIRS data recorded at infancy, 3, 5, and 7 years of age while watching a 2‐min nonsocial video. At 3, 5, and 7 years, children completed behavioral assessments and parents completed questionnaires to assess child EF abilities. Results showed that, although early functional brain network connectivity was not associated with later functional brain connectivity, EF was concurrently and longitudinally associated with functional connectivity levels in both networks. Overall, these results inform the understanding of early emerging neural underpinnings of regulatory abilities and point to considerable change in the composition of functional brain networks and a conservation of function across development.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2122961
- PAR ID:
- 10625034
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Developmental Science
- Volume:
- 28
- Issue:
- 2
- ISSN:
- 1363-755X
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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