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Measurement of spontaneous signal fluctuations in fMRI: adult age differences in intrinsic functional connectivity

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Abstract

Functional connectivity (FC) reflects the coherence of spontaneous, low-frequency fluctuations in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. We report a behavior-based connectivity analysis method, in which whole-brain data are used to identify behaviorally relevant, intrinsic FC networks. Nineteen younger adults (20–28 years) and 19 healthy, older adults (63–78 years) were assessed with fMRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Results indicated that FC involving a distributed network of brain regions, particularly the inferior frontal gyri, exhibited age-related change in the correlation with perceptual-motor speed (choice reaction time; RT). No relation between FC and RT was evident for younger adults, whereas older adults exhibited a significant age-related slowing of perceptual-motor speed, which was mediated by decreasing FC. Older adults’ FC values were in turn associated positively with white matter integrity (from DTI) within the genu of the corpus callosum. The developed FC analysis illustrates the value of identifying connectivity by combining structural, functional, and behavioral data.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by research grants R01 AG011622 (DJM) and R01 NS050329 (AWS) from the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Nan-kuei Chen, Allen W. Song & David J. Madden

  2. Department of Occupational Therapy, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Ying-hui Chou

  3. Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    David J. Madden

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  1. Nan-kuei Chen
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  2. Ying-hui Chou
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  4. David J. Madden
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Correspondence to David J. Madden.

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Chen, Nk., Chou, Yh., Song, A.W. et al. Measurement of spontaneous signal fluctuations in fMRI: adult age differences in intrinsic functional connectivity. Brain Struct Funct 213, 571–585 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-009-0218-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-009-0218-4

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