Resting-state fMRI dynamic functional network connectivity and associations with psychopathy traits

Flor A. Espinoza; Nathaniel E. Anderson; Victor M. Vergara; Carla L. Harenski; Jean Decety; Srinivas Rachakonda; Eswar Damaraju; Michael Koenigs; David S. Kosson; Keith Harenski; Vince D. Calhoun; Kent A. Kiehl

NeuroImage: Clinical (Jan 2019)

Resting-state fMRI dynamic functional network connectivity and associations with psychopathy traits

Flor A. Espinoza,
Nathaniel E. Anderson,
Victor M. Vergara,
Carla L. Harenski,
Jean Decety,
Srinivas Rachakonda,
Eswar Damaraju,
Michael Koenigs,
David S. Kosson,
Keith Harenski,
Vince D. Calhoun,
Kent A. Kiehl

Affiliations

Flor A. Espinoza: The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Corresponding author at: The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Nathaniel E. Anderson: The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Victor M. Vergara: The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
Carla L. Harenski: The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Jean Decety: Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
Srinivas Rachakonda: The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
Eswar Damaraju: The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
Michael Koenigs: Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI, USA
David S. Kosson: Department of Psychology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago, IL, USA
Keith Harenski: The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Vince D. Calhoun: The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
Kent A. Kiehl: The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 24

Abstract

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Studies have used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to examine associations between psychopathy and brain connectivity in selected regions of interest as well as networks covering the whole-brain. One of the limitations of these approaches is that brain connectivity is modeled as a constant state through the scan duration. To address this limitation, we apply group independent component analysis (GICA) and dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) analysis to uncover whole-brain, time-varying functional network connectivity (FNC) states in a large forensic sample. We then examined relationships between psychopathic traits (PCL-R total scores, Factor 1 and Factor 2 scores) and FNC states obtained from dFNC analysis. FNC over the scan duration was better represented by five states rather than one state previously shown in static FNC analysis. Consistent with prior findings, psychopathy was associated with networks from paralimbic regions (amygdala and insula). In addition, whole-brain FNC identified 15 networks from nine functional domains (subcortical, auditory, sensorimotor, cerebellar, visual, salience, default mode network, executive control and attentional) related to psychopathy traits (Factor 1 and PCL-R scores). Results also showed that individuals with higher Factor 1 scores (affective and interpersonal traits) spend more time in a state with weaker connectivity overall, and changed states less frequently compared to those with lower Factor 1 scores. On the other hand, individuals with higher Factor 2 scores (impulsive and antisocial behaviors) showed more dynamism (changes to and from different states) than those with lower scores. Keywords: Psychopathy, Resting-state fMRI, Dynamic functional network connectivity, Group independent component analysis, K-means clustering

Published in NeuroImage: Clinical

ISSN: 2213-1582 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General): Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics; Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry: Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/neuroimage-clinical/

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