Education, and the balance between dynamic and stationary functional connectivity jointly support executive functions in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis

35Citations
Citations of this article
115Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

Graphical network characteristics and nonstationary functional connectivity features, both derived from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) data, have been associated with cognitive performance in healthy subjects. How these features jointly relate to cognition in diseased states has not been investigated. In this study, 46 relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis subjects underwent rsfMRI scans and a focused cognitive battery. With a sliding window approach, we examined six dynamic network features that indicated how connectivity changed over time as well as six measures derived from graph theory to reflect static network characteristics. Multiset canonical correlation analysis (MCCA) was then carried out to investigate the relations between dynamic network features, stationary network characteristics, cognitive testing, demographic, disease severity, and mood. Multiple sclerosis (MS) subjects demonstrated weaker connectivity strength, decreased network density, reduced global changes, but increased changes in interhemispheric connectivity compared to controls. The MCCA model determined that executive functions and processing speed ability measured by Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale IV (WAIS-IV) Working Memory Index, WAIS-IV Processing Speed Index, and the Verbal Fluency Test were positively correlated with education, dynamic connectivity, and static connectivity strength; while poor task switching was correlated with disease severity, psychiatric comorbidities such as depression, anxiety, and fatigue, and static network density. Taken together, our results suggest that better executive functioning in MS requires maintenance of a continued coordination between stationary and dynamic functional connectivity as well as the support of education, and dynamic functional connectivity may provide an additional cognitive biomarker of disease severity in the MS population.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Lin, S. J., Vavasour, I., Kosaka, B., Li, D. K. B., Traboulsee, A., MacKay, A., & McKeown, M. J. (2018). Education, and the balance between dynamic and stationary functional connectivity jointly support executive functions in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis. Human Brain Mapping, 39(12), 5039–5049. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.24343

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free