Biology subjects

David O'Connor

Publications and source records attributed to David O'Connor.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2016

The Healthy Brain Network Serial Scanning Initiative: A resource for evaluating inter-individual differences and their reliabilities across scan conditions and sessions.

BackgroundAlthough typically measured during the resting state, a growing literature is illustrating the ability to map intrinsic connectivity in task and naturalistic viewing fMRI paradigms. These paradigms are drawing excitement due to their greater tolerability in clinical and developing populations and because they enable a wider range of analyses (e.g. inter-subject correlations). To be clinically useful, the test-retest reliability of connectivity measured during these paradigms needs to be established. This resource provides data for evaluating testretest reliability for full-brain connectivity patterns detected during each of four scan conditions that differ with respect to level of engagement (rest, abstract animations, movie clips, flanker task). Data is provided for thirteen participants, each scanned in twelve sessions with 10 minutes for each scan of the four conditions. Diffusion kurtosis imaging data was also obtained at each session.\n\nFindingsTechnical validation and demonstrative reliability analyses found that variation in intrinsic functional connectivity across sessions was greater than that attributable to scan condition. Between-condition reliability was generally high, particularly for the frontoparietal and default networks. Between-session reliabilities obtained separately for the different scan conditions were comparable, though notably lower than between-condition reliabilities.\n\nConclusionsThe described resource provides a test-bed for quantifying the reliability of connectivity indices across conditions and time. The resource can be used to compare and optimize different frameworks for measuring connectivity and data collection parameters such as scan length. Additionally, investigators can explore the unique perspectives of the brains functional architecture offered by each of the scan conditions.

Neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2016

Data-Driven Phenotypic Categorization for Neurobiological Analyses: Beyond DSM-5 Labels

BackgroundData-driven approaches can capture behavioral and biological variation currently unaccounted for by contemporary diagnostic categories, thereby enhancing the ability of neurobiological studies to characterize brain-behavior relationships.\n\nMethodsA community-ascertained sample of individuals (N=347, ages 18-59) completed a battery of behavioral measures, psychiatric assessment, and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI) in a cross-sectional design. Bootstrap-based exploratory factor analysis was applied to 49 phenotypic subscales from 10 measures. Hybrid Hierarchical Clustering was applied to resultant factor scores to identify nested groups. Adjacent groups were compared via independent samples t-tests and chi-square tests of factor scores, syndrome scores, and psychiatric prevalence. Multivariate Distance Matrix Regression examined functional connectome differences between adjacent groups.\n\nResultsReduction yielded six factors, which explained 77.8% and 65.4% of the variance in exploratory and constrained exploratory models, respectively. Hybrid Hierarchical Clustering of these 6 factors identified 2, 4, and 8 nested groups (i.e., phenotypic communities). At the highest clustering level, the algorithm differentiated functionally adaptive and maladaptive groups. At the middle clustering level, groups were separated by problem type (maladaptive groups; internalizing vs. externalizing problems) and behavioral type (adaptive groups; sensation-seeking vs. extraverted/emotionally stable). Unique phenotypic profiles were also evident at the lowest clustering level. Group comparisons exhibited significant differences in intrinsic functional connectivity at the highest clustering level in somatomotor, thalamic, basal ganglia, and limbic networks.\n\nConclusionsData-driven approaches for identifying homogenous subgroups, spanning typical function to dysfunction not only yielded clinically meaningful groups, but captured behavioral and neurobiological variation among healthy individuals as well.

Neuroscience↗