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PubMed2026

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: a comparative analysis of genetic and brain network connectivity.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) are severe psychiatric conditions with overlapping clinical presentations, genetic risk factors, and brain network dysfunction. Whether alterations in large-scale intrinsic brain networks reflect shared or disorder-specific genetic influences remains poorly understood. Clarifying this distinction is essential for refining etiological models and improving diagnostic precision. METHODS: Genome-wide inferred statistics (GWIS) were applied to decompose the genetic architecture of SCZ and BD into shared and unique components. Using resting-state network (RSN) data from the UK Biobank, functional connectivity (FC) and structural connectivity (SC) were extracted as neuroimaging phenotypes. Causal inference approaches were subsequently employed to infer potential directional relationships between brain network connectivity and each disorder. RESULTS: Analyses revealed both common and distinct patterns of brain network connectivity associated with SCZ and BD. Notably, SC within the default mode network (DMN) exhibited opposing effects across the two disorders, suggesting divergent structural underpinnings despite clinical overlap. Additionally, SC within the limbic network (LN) and frontotemporal control network demonstrated potential causal relationships with both conditions, implicating these circuits astransdiagnostic neural substrates. CONCLUSION: These findings illuminate the shared and disorder-specific genetic and neural architecture underlying SCZ and BD. Integrating genome-wide genetic methods with large-scale neuroimaging data offers a powerful framework for disentangling psychiatric comorbidity and may inform more targeted diagnostic criteria and individualized treatment strategies.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Brain dynamics reflecting an intra-network brain state is associated with increased posttraumatic stress symptoms in the early aftermath of trauma.

Post-traumatic stress (PTS) encompasses a range of psychological responses following trauma, which may lead to more severe outcomes such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Identifying early neuroimaging biomarkers that link brain function to PTS outcomes is critical for understanding PTSD risk. This longitudinal study examines the association between brain dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) and current/future PTS symptom severity, and the impact of sex on this relationship. By analyzing 275 participants' dFNC data obtained ~2 weeks after trauma exposure, we noted that brain dynamics of an inter-network brain state link negatively with current (r=-0.197, p corrected = 0.0079) and future (r=-0.176, p corrected = 0.0176) PTS symptom severity. Also, dynamics of an intra-network brain state correlated with future symptom intensity (r = 0.205, p corrected = 0.0079). We additionally observed that the association between the network dynamics of the inter-network and intra-network brain state with symptom severity is more pronounced in female group. Our findings highlight a potential link between brain network dynamics in the aftermath of trauma with current and future PTSD outcomes, with a stronger effect in female group, underscoring the importance of sex differences.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2025

Glaucoma and brain functional networks: a bidirectional Mendelian randomisation study.

OBJECTIVE: Glaucoma is a complex neurodegenerative ocular disorder accompanied by brain functional abnormalities that extend beyond the visual system. However, the causal association between the two remains unclear at present. This study aimed to investigate the potential causal relationships between glaucoma and brain functional networks in order to provide novel insights into the neuropathic mechanism of glaucoma. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Based on the genome-wide association studies data of glaucoma and resting-state functional MRI (Rs-fMRI), a bidirectional Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis was conducted between glaucoma and brain functional networks. Inverse variance weighting was applied as the primary method to estimate causality with false discovery rate correction. Additional sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the robustness of the results. RESULTS: Forward MR analysis suggested that glaucoma was causally associated with two brain networks between the subcortical cerebellum and the attention or visual network (p=0.022), as well as the default mode and central executive network (p=0.008), but without significance after false discovery rate correction (q>0.1). Reverse MR analysis revealed 19 Rs-fMRI traits related to glaucoma risk, including the salience or central executive network in the frontal region (p=0.0005, q=0.08) and the motor network (p=0.0009, q=0.08) with significant causality. CONCLUSIONS: This MR study revealed potentially causal relationships between glaucoma and brain functional networks. Especially, the functional connectivity of the motor network between the postcentral or precentral areas may potentially lead to increased risk of glaucoma.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Electroencephalographic evidence of cortical network disruption preceding overt cardioinhibition during tilt-induced reflex syncope.

OBJECTIVE: Reflex syncope is a common cause of transient loss of consciousness. However, the early cerebral mechanisms underlying cardiovascular changes remain poorly understood. Our objective was to investigate early cerebral changes by quantitatively analyzing EEG activity preceding overt cardioinhibition during tilt-induced reflex syncope. METHODS: EEG recordings from patients undergoing tilt testing were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who experienced reflex syncope were compared to those who did not. Spectral and functional connectivity analyses were performed across baseline, pre-cardioinhibition, and syncopal phases. RESULTS: Prior to the onset of cardioinhibitory pathological reflex, a significant increase in theta-band spectral power was observed in the right temporal region, accompanied by a widespread increase in functional connectivity within the same frequency band. These findings suggest the involvement of brain networks before cardioinhibition. CONCLUSIONS: EEG changes in the theta band (power and functional connectivity) were observed before overt cardioinhibition during tilt-induced reflex syncope. SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings support the hypothesis of cortical processing preceding cardioinhibition in reflex syncope. EEG may represent a valuable complementary tool for improving the understanding and diagnosis of these events.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Dynamic Fusion of Genomics and Functional Network Connectivity in UK Biobank Reveals Schizophrenia-Related SNP Manifolds.

Many mental disorders show strong genetic influence. In parallel, dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) has shown high sensitivity to brain changes related to mental disorders. However, previous studies linking dFNC to genetics largely follow a paradigm to identify associations between one set of genetic factors and multiple sets of connectivity features from different dFNC states, ignoring the potential variability in genetic correlates across states. We propose a novel joint ICA (jICA)-based "dynamic fusion" framework to identify dynamically tuned genetic manifolds. A sliding window approach was utilized to estimate four dFNC states and compute subject-level state-average dFNC (sa-dFNC) features. The sa-dFNC features of each state were combined with schizophrenia risk single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within a jICA fusion framework, resulting in four parallel fusions in 32,861 individuals of the UK Biobank cohort. The extracted four sets of joint SNP-dFNC components were further validated for clinical relevance in a combined schizophrenia cohort of 820 individuals (348 patients). The similarity of SNP-dFNC components across four parallel fusions was evaluated as a measure of state variability. We observed a mixture of "state-invariant" and "state-variant" components for SNP and dFNC modalities. Particularly, the schizophrenia-related state-variant SNP components, or manifolds, complemented each other by capturing different SNPs involved in the same biological functions, revealing a partition of genomic risk particularly elicited by the dynamics of brain function. By augmenting the SNP factors to state-variant manifolds, this dynamic fusion framework promises additional insights into the underlying genetic risk of disease-related alterations in dynamic brain function.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Dual Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Modulates Hierarchical Functional Network Organization in Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of dual transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) and to explore the effects on the hierarchical organization of functional brain networks, ranging from regional synchronization to inter-regional connectivity and global network topology. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial, 74 PSCI patients received conventional therapy alongside either active dual-tDCS (n = 38) or sham stimulation (n = 36). Active tDCS targeted the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) via anodal-left/cathodal-right nodes (2.0 mA, 20 min/day, 20 sessions). The primary outcome was the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Secondary outcomes included the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), Stroop Test (ST), Trail Making Test (TMT), Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS), and Barthel Index (BI). A subgroup of 36 participants (18 per group) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to analyze regional homogeneity (ReHo), functional connectivity (FC), and network topology. Partial correlations assessed the association between neuroimaging alterations and clinical improvements. RESULTS: The tDCS group showed significantly greater improvements in MoCA scores (tDCS: 5.74 ± 2.76 vs. sham: 2.69 ± 2.69; t = 4.799, p < 0.001) as well as in attention and memory domains compared to the sham group. The rs-fMRI changes included increased ReHo in the right middle temporal gyrus (MTG) and the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), and reduced FC between the right MTG-left superior frontal gyrus and left IFG-cerebellum (p < 0.05, FWE-corrected). Additionally, small-worldness and global efficiency increased (p < 0.05) with these alterations correlating with clinical recovery. Adverse events were rare and self-limiting. CONCLUSION: Dual-tDCS over bilateral DLPFC safely improves cognitive recovery in PSCI. These clinical gains are associated with rs-fMRI alterations, specifically in regional synchronization, inter-regional connectivity, and global topology, which suggest a potential biomarker for monitoring tDCS efficacy, offering a rationale for precision neuromodulation in stroke rehabilitation.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Brain network alterations underlying cue reactivity and craving in abstinent methamphetamine users: a systematic review of functional MRI findings.

BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) is marked by intense craving and high relapse risk, often triggered by drug-related cues. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) provides key insight into the neural basis of this cue reactivity, implicating large-scale brain networks for reward, motivation, and control. Yet, findings remain inconsistent across studies due to differences in task design, abstinence duration, and participant characteristics. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review synthesises evidence on how abstinence influences brain network alterations underlying cue reactivity and craving in methamphetamine users, integrating task-based and resting-state fMRI findings within leading neurobiological models of addiction. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Ovid was conducted up to August 10, 2025, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eligible fMRI studies examined cue reactivity or craving in abstinent methamphetamine users. Data were extracted on activation, connectivity, and brain-behaviour associations, and synthesised narratively. RESULTS: Task-based studies revealed heightened activation across reward, salience, and control networks during cue exposure, which diminished as parietal and executive control systems re-engaged with longer abstinence. Resting-state findings showed disrupted intrinsic connectivity among default mode, salience, and frontoparietal networks, reflecting persistent imbalances linked to craving and use severity. CONCLUSION: fMRI evidence shows that MUD is marked by network-level disruption linking reward, salience, and control systems. Task-based findings reveal strong cue reactivity in reward circuits, while resting-state data show persistent imbalance among default mode and control networks. With abstinence, partial restoration of network integrity emerges, highlighting both vulnerability and opportunities for targeted, recovery-based interventions.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Interrogating functional connectivity of in vitro neural glia tissue model modulated through integrative control of matrix stiffness and a neurotrophic factor.

Brain function emerges from intricate cellular communication within neural networks. Both In silico neuronal models and primary neuron cells have revealed that the branching architecture of individual neurons determines the bioelectrical signal propagation pattern and dynamics. However, whether stem cell-differentiated neurons can build functional connectivity regulated by neuronal morphology has yet to be determined. Here, we hypothesized that neurite length, branching, or both factors would regulate the functional connectivity of the stem cell-differentiated neural network. We examined this hypothesis by differentiating mouse cortical neural stem cells (NSCs) on Matrigel substrates with varying storage moduli, both with and without basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Interestingly, with bFGF, Matrigel with a storage modulus (G') of 100 Pa drives NSCs to differentiate into neurons with more dendritic branches, while the gel with G' of 50 Pa led to the development of longer neurites with fewer branches. Notably, branch-rich neural networks exhibited an increased frequency of calcium transients. Using a MATLAB-based analysis pipeline incorporating graph theory, we constructed spatial and temporal calcium activity maps, revealing that branching complexity, more than neurite length, correlates with the density and strength of functional neural circuits. Overall, this study demonstrates that the dendritic branching of neurons, modulated with matrix stiffness and neurotrophic factors, is a key element in enhancing the electrophysiological functionality of the stem cell-differentiated neural network. This finding will have a significant impact on efforts to reconstruct functional neural tissue models, advancing both regenerative therapies and unexplored applications, including biological computing.

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PubMed1979

[Changes in the millivolt potential of brain structures during micropolarization influencing trace phenomena].

In chronic experiments on monkeys and cats, the effects of intracerebral micropolarization modulating memory processes, on the mV potential of cerebral structures, were studied. A connection was revealed between trace fixing and processes of systemic kindling on the one hand, and the following stabilizing of mV potential, on the other hand. The data obtained suggest that the distant changes of the mV potential reflect a general "tuning" of cerebral systems, are realized by means of specialized regulatory neuronal networks and connected with shifts in metabolic processes.

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PubMed2025

Exploring the transmission of cognitive task information through optimal brain pathways.

Understanding the large-scale information processing that underlies complex human cognition is the central goal of cognitive neuroscience. While emerging activity flow models demonstrate that cognitive task information is transferred by interregional functional or structural connectivity, graph-theory-based models typically assume that neural communication occurs via the shortest path of brain networks. However, whether the shortest path is the optimal route for empirical cognitive information transmission remains unclear. Based on a large-scale activity flow mapping framework, we found that the performance of activity flow prediction with the shortest path was significantly lower than that with the direct path. The shortest path routing was superior to other network communication strategies, including search information, path ensembles, and navigation. Intriguingly, the shortest path outperformed the direct path in activity flow prediction when the physical distance constraint and asymmetric routing contribution were simultaneously considered. This study not only challenges the shortest path assumption through empirical network models but also suggests that cognitive task information routing is constrained by the spatial and functional embedding of the brain network.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

The Thyroid-Brain Network: Exploring Inflammation, Immune Mechanisms and Common Triggers in Thyroid-Related Neurological Dysfunction.

Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD), including Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease, represent the most prevalent endocrine disorders worldwide, affecting hundreds of millions with profound but often under recognized neurological consequences. There are emerging lines of evidence establishing inflammation and immunity as the critical missing link connecting peripheral thyroid dysfunction to central nervous system manifestations. Thyroid hormones function as essential neuromodulators governing neurodevelopment, synaptic plasticity, and cognitive processing through integrated genomic and non-genomic mechanisms, with region-specific cerebral metabolic disturbances correlating with distinct neuropsychiatric symptoms. The immunological perspective reveals that AITD propagates neuroinflammation through convergent pathways: molecular mimicry enabling cross-reactivity between thyroid and neural antigens, cytokine-mediated disruption of neurotransmitter metabolism, HMGB1-driven glial activation, and blood-brain barrier compromise facilitating immune cell infiltration. The thyroid-gut-microbiota axis emerges as a critical mediator wherein dysbiosis perpetuates both thyroid autoimmunity and neuroinflammation through impaired serotonin precursor availability and increased intestinal permeability. Mitochondrial dysfunction represents an energetic common denominator, as thyroid hormone dysregulation directly impairs oxidative phosphorylation, producing region-specific cerebral metabolic disturbances. Simultaneous compromise of monoamine systems, cholinergic signaling abnormalities, and glutamate excitotoxicity creates a particularly toxic neurochemical state in untreated thyroid dysfunction. Common triggers such as psychological stress, gut dysbiosis, and mitochondrial impairment may activate interconnected pathways that simultaneously compromise thyroid and brain function, revealing that these disorders share fundamental mechanistic origins. These insights have been discussed in the current review to enhance the understanding of thyroid-brain function, the core mechanisms and consequences of functional deficits.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

Targeting cortico-striatal-amygdalar networks via theta-band frontoparietal synchronization in opioid use disorder: a randomized tACS-fMRI Trial.

Theta-band oscillation is integral to fronto-parietal connectivity in the executive control network and its top-down regulation on subcortical areas. External frontoparietal synchronization using theta-frequency transcranial alternating current (tACS) is a technology to potentially engage this network. In this pre-registered, triple-blind, sham-controlled trial (NCT03907644), we tested this intervention targeting the right frontoparietal network in people with opioid use disorder (OUD) to measure network engagement and behavioral outcomes. Sixty male participants with OUD were randomized to receive 20 min of active or sham 6 Hz tACS (HD electrodes over F4 and P4). Structural, resting-state, task-based fMRI drug cue reactivity, and repeated cue-induced craving assessments were collected immediately before and after stimulation. Pre-registered outcome measures were analyzed using time × group interaction models to examine (1) modulation of drug cue-related brain activity, (2) changes in craving, (3) alterations in functional connectivity, and (4) relationship between electric field, neural responses, and craving behavior. (1) A significant Time × Group interaction revealed decreased post-stimulation opioid cue-related activity in the active group relative to sham, involving key nodes in reward processing (ventral striatum, amygdala and ventral tegmental area) (FWE corrected α = 0.05) (2) subjective craving did not differ significantly between groups (3) Group by time generalized psychophysiological interaction analyses showed increased right frontoparietal network engagement (β = 2.63, p= 0.0308) following stimulation, and increased top-down inhibitory regulation of frontoparietal network on right ventral striatum (β = 1.99, p= 0.037) and left medial amygdala (β = 1.97, p= 0.039) (4) Electric field strength in the right frontal/parietal node predicted frontoparietal network engagement in the active group (r = 0.43, p= 0.02). Together, these findings demonstrate that theta-band frontoparietal tACS can modulate activity and task-dependent coupling within cortical-subcortical circuits in OUD, supporting network-targeted neuromodulation as a potential intervention for addiction.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Shared genetic architecture between major depression and intrinsic brain functional connectome organization.

BACKGROUND: Major depression (MD) is increasingly understood as a disorder characterized by widespread abnormalities in intrinsic brain functional network organization. Although both MD and brain functional connectome architecture are highly heritable, the genetic architecture underlying their relationship remains poorly characterized. METHODS: We integrated genome-wide association studies of MD with 191 ICA-based resting-state functional connectome traits to investigate their shared genetic architecture. These traits captured intrinsic connectome organization across amplitude, functional connectivity, and global connectivity domains. Cross-trait genetic analyses were used to assess pleiotropic overlap between traits. Locus-level and gene-based analyses integrating multi-omics evidence were performed to characterize the biological relevance of shared genetic signals. RESULTS: We identified significant genetic overlap between MD and 148 of 191 brain functional connectome traits. Cross-trait analyses revealed widespread shared genetic signals organized into 627 genomic loci across amplitude, functional connectivity, and global connectivity measures. Among these, 193 loci showed evidence consistent with shared causal variants based on colocalization analyses. Gene-level integration mapped these loci to 1459 protein-coding genes (390 unique genes). Multi-layer prioritization identified 17 high-confidence genes supported by convergent genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic evidence, with enrichment in neurodevelopmental and lipid-related metabolism pathways. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a multi-scale characterization of the shared genetic architecture between MD and intrinsic brain functional connectome organization, revealing that shared genetic signals between MD and brain functional systems are distributed across multiple functional levels and converge at the molecular level.

Connectome↗

PubMed1975

The dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus in autonomic and neuroendocrine homeostasis.

Median eminence and ventromedial hypothalamus have in the past been the principal foci of research in neuroendocrine and neurovisceral control mechanisms. The present report provides an overview of work involving the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMV). This structure is located dorsal to the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMN) to the plane of the dorsal premammillary nucleus. Fibers from the DMN pass with the periventricular system and the dorsal longitudinal fasciculus of Schütz and have been traced to the midbrain tegmentum and reticular formation. Intrahypothalamic connections involve intensive networks between DMN, lateral hypothalamic nucleus (LHN) and VMN. Regarding neurotransmitters, recent studies indicate that the DMN receives noradrenergic innervation along two pathways, a dorsal and a ventral one. Monoamine-containing systems approach the DMN From the lateral hypothalamus and the bulk of these fibers are carried in the medium forebrain bundle from their cells of origin in the brain stem. Studies of the vascular supply indicate that both VMN and DMN receive their blood supply from the internal carotid artery...

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PubMed2026

Infra-low-frequency neurofeedback alters EEG network efficiency: exploratory evidence from healthy volunteers.

Infra-Low-Frequency Neurofeedback (ILF-NFB) combines classic frequency-band (FB) and infra-low-frequency (ILF) EEG components in implicit training protocols and is increasingly applied in clinical contexts. Yet, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying ILF-NFB remain to be further elucidated. In this randomized, sham-controlled and double-blind study, we explored the online impact of a one-session ILF-NFB application on EEG correlates in healthy participants (39 analyzed datasets). Continuous 31-channel EEG was recorded during verum and sham feedback in a double-blind, randomized crossover design. In this exploratory analysis approach, functional connectivity was estimated using the debiased weighted phase-lag index (dwPLI) and analyzed with graph-theoretical measures. The results revealed higher global efficiency during verum compared to sham in the Beta1 band (12-15 Hz), reaching significance in the primary comparison but not surviving Bonferroni correction across the five tested bands; block-wise follow-ups showed a significant verum-sham difference in the first half of the neurofeedback session and a directionally consistent pattern in the second half. The Condition × Block interaction was not significant. No consistent differences were observed in other frequency bands, nor for betweenness centrality. While preliminary, these exploratory results point to possible network-level effects during ILF-NFB and motivate further confirmatory work in extended training protocols and clinical populations.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Altered neural electrophysiological properties in the anterior cingulate cortex in a mouse model of Prader-Willi syndrome.

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neurodevelopmental genetic disease associated with multiple metabolic and behavioural abnormalities converging into a distinctive clinical phenotype characterized by insatiable appetite leading to hyperphagia and eventual morbid obesity. The PWS spectrum results from deficiencies in paternally imprinted chromosome 15q11-13 region clustering around non-coding RNA multiple-repeat gene Snord116. A PWS mouse model with paternal Snord116 deletion (Snord116del) revealed multiple expected behavioural traits but failed to reproduce obesity in experimental paradigms designed to uncover homeostatic hypothalamic mechanisms of hyperphagia, while the possibility for pathologic hedonic overdrive underlying hyperphagic behaviours was not studied. In Snord116del mice, we examined functional properties of pyramidal neurons (PyNs) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the brain area commonly associated with goal-oriented and choice-outcome processing, including the value assessment of food items. We found indications of higher dendritic complexity and stronger afferent excitatory connectivity compared to controls. A strong excitatory input into Snord116del PyNs was balanced by a more hyperpolarized resting membrane potential, rendering lower soma excitability, improved signal-to-noise discrimination and stronger low-pass filtering. The enhanced excitatory network-tuning ability originating from Snord116 deficiency may explain the previously reported better performance of Snord116del over wild-type mice in working-for-food behavioural tests, whereas in humans it might entail exaggerated reward-seeking behaviour since early childhood when food is the main attractant. Our analysis of previously published genomic databases revealed candidate genes responsible for the abnormal functional neuronal phenotype caused by Snord116 deletion, including K+ and Na+ voltage-dependent ion channels, protein kinases, phosphatases and components of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) intracellular signalling pathway. KEY POINTS: Altered biophysical characteristics and parameters of neuronal connectivity in pyramidal neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in Snord116 deletion mice. Alterations include augmented afferent synaptic input, altered resting state and firing properties of ACC pyramidal neurons. Our findings uncover a possible mechanistic basis for altered ACC functionality in Prader-Willi syndrome.

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PubMed2025

Genetic variation influences food-sharing sociability in honey bees.

Individual variation in sociability is a central feature of every society. This includes honey bees, with some individuals well connected and sociable, and others at the periphery of their colony's social network. However, the genetic and molecular bases of sociability are poorly understood. Trophallaxis-a behavior involving sharing liquid with nutritional and signaling properties-comprises a social interaction and a proxy for sociability in honey bee colonies: more sociable bees engage in more trophallaxis. Here, we identify genetic and molecular mechanisms of trophallaxis-based sociability by combining genome sequencing, brain transcriptomics, and automated behavioral tracking. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with variation in sociability. Several SNPs were localized to genes previously associated with sociability in other species, including in the context of human autism, suggesting shared molecular mechanisms of sociability. Variation in sociability also was linked to differential brain gene expression, particularly genes associated with neural signaling and development. Using comparative genomic and transcriptomic approaches, we also detected evidence for divergent mechanisms underpinning sociability across species, including those related to reward sensitivity and encounter probability. These results highlight both potential evolutionary conservation of the molecular roots of sociability and points of divergence.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Neurocorrelates of nocturnal enuresis in pre-adolescent children.

INTRODUCTION: Nocturnal enuresis (NE) is a common neurodevelopmental condition, yet its underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. This study leverages the large-scale Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) dataset to identify structural and functional brain correlates associated with active symptoms and the resolution of bedwetting. METHODS: Using cross-sectional data from 3472 participants aged 9-10 years, children were categorized into three groups: active nocturnal enuresis (ANE, n = 225), history of nocturnal enuresis (HNE, n = 1171), and healthy control groups (CG, n = 2076). Multimodal neuroimaging protocol evaluated macrostructural properties via structural MRI (sMRI), microstructural white matter integrity via diffusion MRI (dMRI), and functional connectivity via resting-state fMRI (fMRI). Group differences were evaluated using linear models within an ANCOVA framework, adjusting for intracranial volume and handedness with False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction. RESULTS: Compared to controls, the ANE group exhibited a significant volume deficit in the right caudate, decreased sulcal depth in the left insula, and lower internal correlation within the Cingulo-Opercular Network (CON). Conversely, the dry HNE group demonstrated significant structural adaptations, including bilaterally larger putamen volumes and increased right caudate volume compared to the ANE group. The HNE group also showed increased microstructural density (decreased mean diffusivity) in the bilateral hippocampus and an increased cortical surface area in the left insula. Both NE groups demonstrated persistently reduced functional coupling within the CON. CONCLUSIONS: Nocturnal enuresis appears to be associated with a potential complex central signaling deficits. Reduced internal correlation within the CON across both active and former bedwetters indicates a potential for impairment in processing internal homeostatic bladder signals during sleep.

Humans↗