Effects of Tasks on Functional Brain Connectivity Derived from Interindividual Correlations: Insights from Regional Homogeneity of Functional MRI Data

Abstract

Introduction:

Research on brain functional connectivity often relies on intraindividual moment-to-moment correlations of functional activity, typically using functional MRI (fMRI). Interindividual correlations are also employed in data from fMRI and positron emission tomography. Many studies have not specified tasks during scanning, keeping participants in an implicit “resting” condition. This lack of task specificity raises questions about how different tasks impact interindividual correlation estimates.

Methods and Results:

In our analysis of fMRI data from 100 unrelated participants scanned during seven tasks and in a resting state, we calculated regional homogeneity (ReHo) for each task as a regional measure of brain function. We found that changes in ReHo due to tasks were relatively small compared with its variations across brain regions. Cross-region variations of ReHo were highly correlated among tasks. Similarly, whole-brain interindividual correlation patterns were remarkably consistent across the tasks, showing correlations greater than 0.78. Changes in interindividual correlations between tasks were primarily driven by connectivity in the visual, somatomotor, and default mode networks, as well as the interactions between them.

Conclusions:

These subtle yet statistically significant differences in functional connectivity may be linked to specific brain regions associated with the studied tasks. Future studies should consider task design when exploring interindividual connectivity in specific brain systems.

Impact Statement

Interindividual correlation is increasingly used to estimate brain connectivity, complementing intraindividual correlations in functional MRI (fMRI), particularly for measures like cerebral blood flow obtained via fMRI and positron emission tomography. However, how task performance affects interindividual correlations is largely unknown. This study used regional homogeneity as a summary measure of brain functions from task-based fMRI data across eight tasks. The interindividual correlations were highly similar across tasks, indicating the underlying brain network structure can be inferred under various conditions. Subtle but statistically significant differences in connectivity estimates suggest the functional significance of this approach.