Topic: From Advanced Techniques to Basic Applications: Insights into Brain Connectomics
Moderator: Hui Sun, Post.doc
Date: 30/12/2024, 14:00
Location: The lab of HMRRC (10011, the 8th Teaching Building)
Speaker 1: Yidan Wang, Ph.D. Candidate
Title: Robust estimation of cortical similarity networks from brain MRI
Keypoints：
Question: How does the Morphometric INverse Divergence (MIND) method for estimating cortical similarity networks from brain MRI data compare to existing methods in terms of reliability and biological relevance? Findings: MIND networks derived from human T1-weighted MRI were more sensitive to age-related changes than morphometric similarity networks (MSNs) or networks derived by tractography of diffusion-weighted MRI. Gene co-expression between cortical areas was more strongly coupled to MIND networks than to MSNs or tractography. MIND network phenotypes were also more heritable, especially edges between structurally differentiated areas. Meaning: MIND network analysis provides a biologically validated lens for cortical connectomics using readily available MRI data.
Speaker 2:Yi Zhao, M.M. Candidate
Title: Alterations in Volume and Intrinsic Resting-State Functional Connectivity Detected at Brain MRI in Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder
Keypoints：
Question: What are the structural and functional brain alterations in individuals with OUD?
Findings: In this secondary analysis of a prospective study, widespread structural and functional differences, were observed across multiple brain regions. An interaction between sex and group for volume was found in the medial prefrontal cortex, with female participants having larger volumes than male participants in the OUD group but not healthy controls. The structural and functional differences in the cerebellum and brainstem were positively correlated, while those in the thalamus and medial temporal lobe were not.
Meaning: The study results provide emerging substrates for future work on opioid use and misuse.