Disruptions in Effective Connectivity within and between Default Mode Network and Anterior Forebrain Mesocircuit in Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness

Brain Sciences

Adrian M. Owen¹  Sean Coulborn²  Davinia Fernández-Espejo²  Chris Taylor²  Lorina Naci³ 

[1] Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada;Centre for Human Brain Health and School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland;

关键词: disorders of consciousness;    default mode network;    anterior forebrain mesocircuit;    dynamic causal modelling;    effective connectivity;    fMRI;   

DOI  :  10.3390/brainsci11060749

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Recent research indicates prolonged disorders of consciousness (PDOC) result from structural and functional impairments to key cortical and subcortical networks, including the default mode network (DMN) and the anterior forebrain mesocircuit (AFM). However, the specific mechanisms which underpin such impairments remain unknown. It is known that disruptions in the striatal-pallidal pathway can result in the over inhibition of the thalamus and lack of excitation to the cortex that characterizes PDOC. Here, we used spectral dynamic causal modelling and parametric empirical Bayes on rs-fMRI data to assess whether DMN changes in PDOC are caused by disruptions in the AFM. PDOC patients displayed overall reduced coupling within the AFM, and specifically, decreased self-inhibition of the striatum, paired with reduced coupling from striatum to thalamus. This led to loss of inhibition from AFM to DMN, mostly driven by posterior areas including the precuneus and inferior parietal cortex. In turn, the DMN showed disruptions in self-inhibition of the precuneus and medial prefrontal cortex. Our results provide support for the anterior mesocircuit model at the subcortical level but highlight an inhibitory role for the AFM over the DMN, which is disrupted in PDOC.

【 授权许可】

Unknown