AUTHOR=Belcher Annabelle M. , Yen Cecil Chern-Chyi , Notardonato Lucia , Ross Thomas J. , Volkow Nora D. , Yang Yihong , Stein Elliot A. , Silva Afonso C. , Tomasi Dardo 

TITLE=Functional Connectivity Hubs and Networks in the Awake Marmoset Brain

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/integrative-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnint.2016.00009

DOI=10.3389/fnint.2016.00009

ISSN=1662-5145

ABSTRACT=<p>In combination with advances in analytical methods, resting-state fMRI is allowing unprecedented access to a better understanding of the network organization of the brain. Increasing evidence suggests that this architecture may incorporate highly functionally connected nodes, or “hubs”, and we have recently proposed local functional connectivity density (<italic>l</italic>FCD) mapping to identify highly-connected nodes in the human brain. Here, we imaged awake nonhuman primates to test whether, like the human brain, the marmoset brain contains FC hubs. Ten adult common marmosets (<italic>Callithrix jacchus</italic>) were acclimated to mild, comfortable restraint using individualized helmets. Following restraint training, resting BOLD data were acquired during eight consecutive 10 min scans for each subject. <italic>l</italic>FCD revealed prominent cortical and subcortical hubs of connectivity across the marmoset brain; specifically, in primary and secondary visual cortices (V1/V2), higher-order visual association areas (A19M/V6[DM]), posterior parietal and posterior cingulate areas (PGM and A23b/A31), thalamus, dorsal and ventral striatal areas (caudate, putamen, lateral septal nucleus, and anterior cingulate cortex (A24a). <italic>l</italic>FCD hubs were highly connected to widespread areas of the brain, and further revealed significant network-network interactions. These data provide a baseline platform for future investigations in a nonhuman primate model of the brain’s network topology.</p>