Resting-state Functional Connectivity MRI

Abstract

Resting-state functional connectivity MRI (rsfcMRI) is an emerging MRI technique that allows for assessment of functional connectivity between brain regions through the detection of intrinsic oscillations occurring in the resting-state networks. The default mode network (DMN) is one of the resting-state networks and consists of the medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex-precuneus, temporo-parietal junction and medial temporal cortex including the hippocampus. DMN is characterized as a set of brain regions that show higher brain activity during rest than during demanding cognitive tasks, and is suggested for roles in higher cognitive functions such as the self and awareness. Moreover, rsfcMRI studies have shown that DMN is abnormal in patients with senile dementia of Alzheimer type and mild cognitive impairment and also in cognitively normal elderly subjects with amyloid deposition. As such rsfcMRI is suitable as a tool for measuring biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of neuro-psychiatric disorders including dementia. Many measurement and analytic methods are available for rsfcMRI. For the clinical application, however, it is important to develop standardized measurement and analytic techniques, which can be easily applicable to clinical settings.