Distinct neural responses of morningness and eveningness chronotype to homeostatic sleep pressure revealed by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Background: Chronotype is an appropriate variable to investigate sleep homeostatic and circadian rhythm. Based on functional MRI, the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of insula-angular decrease with the increase in homeostatic sleep pressure (HSP). However, the distinct neural response of different chronotype remained to be clarified. Therefore, we investigated how HSP influenced insular-angular neural interaction of different chronotype. Methods: 64 morningness-chronotype (MCPs) and 128 eveningness-chronotype participants (ECPs) received resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) scan. HSP was divided into three levels (Low, Medium, and High) based on the elapsed time awake. Insular-angular rsFC was calculated for MCPs and ECPs on each HSP. Results: As the levels of HSP increased, the negative rsFC between right insular and bilateral angular increased in MCPs while decreased in ECPs. Specifically, ECPs compared with MCPs showed lower rsFC at medium levels of HSP, but higher rsFC at high levels of HSP. In addition, ECPs compared with MCPs exhibited lower rsFC between right insular and right angular at low levels of HSP. Conclusion: The distinct modes of rsFC was found in different chronotype in response to HSP. The results provided the foundation and evidence for investigating the processes of circadian rhythm and sleep homeostatic.