1. A posterior-to-anterior shift of brain functional dynamics in aging.
- Author
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Zhang, Han, Lee, Annie, and Qiu, Anqi
- Subjects
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FUNCTIONAL magnetic resonance imaging , *AGING , *COGNITIVE ability , *BRAIN function localization , *EPISODIC memory - Abstract
Convergent evidence from task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies suggests a posterior-to-anterior shift as an adaptive compensatory scaffolding mechanism for aging. This study aimed to investigate whether brain functional dynamics at rest follow the same scaffolding mechanism for aging using a large Chinese sample aged from 22 to 79 years ( n = 277). We defined a probability of brain regions being hubs over a period of time to characterize functional hub dynamic, and defined variability of the functional connectivity to characterize dynamic functional connectivity using resting-state fMRI. Our results revealed that both functional hub dynamics and dynamic functional connectivity posited an age-related posterior-to-anterior shift. Specifically, the posterior brain region showed attenuated dynamics, while the anterior brain regions showed augmented dynamics in aging. Interestingly, our analysis further indicated that the age-related episodic memory decline was associated with the age-related decrease in the brain functional dynamics of the posterior regions. Hence, these findings provided a new dimension to view the scaffolding mechanism for aging based on the brain functional dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
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