Abnormal dynamics of brain functional networks in children with Tourette syndrome

Xiaoyang Xin; Yixuan Feng; Yuting Lou; Jianhua Feng; Xiaoqing Gao

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.01.046

Abnormal dynamics of brain functional networks in children with Tourette syndrome

J Psychiatr Res. 2023 Mar:159:249-257. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.01.046. Epub 2023 Jan 28.

Authors

Xiaoyang Xin¹, Yixuan Feng², Yuting Lou³, Jianhua Feng³, Xiaoqing Gao⁴

Affiliations

¹ Center for Psychological Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
² Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab of Ophthalmology, Hangzhou 310009, China.
³ Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
⁴ Center for Psychological Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China. Electronic address: xiaoqinggao@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 36764224
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.01.046

Abstract

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by the presence of multiple motor and vocal tics. Research using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rfMRI) have found aberrant static functional connectivity (FC) and its topological properties in the brain networks of TS. Our study is the first to investigate the dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) in the whole brain network of TS patients, focusing on the temporal properties of dFC states and the temporal variability of topological organization. The rfMRI data of 36 male children with TS and 27 matched healthy controls were collected and further analyzed by group spatial independent component analysis, sliding windows approach based dFC analysis, k-means clustering analysis, and graph theory analysis. The clustering analysis identified three dFC states. Of these states, state 2, characterized by increased inter-network connections in subcortical network (SCN), sensorimotor network (SMN), and default mode network (DMN), and decreased inter-network connections between salience network (SAN) and executive control network (ECN), was found to have higher fractional window and dwell time in TS, which was also positively correlated with tic severity. TS patients also exhibited higher temporal variability of whole-brain-network global efficiency and local efficiency, and higher temporal variability of nodal efficiency and local efficiency in SCN, DMN, ECN, SAN, and SMN. Additionally, temporal variability of the efficiency and local efficiency in insula was positively correlated with tic severity. Our findings revealed abnormal temporal property of dFC states and temporal variability of topological organization in TS, providing new insights into clinical diagnoses and neuropathology of TS.

Keywords: Dynamic functional connectivity; Graph theory; Independent component analysis; Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging; Tourette syndrome.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Brain
Brain Mapping / methods
Child
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
Male
Tics*
Tourette Syndrome*