Journal Article

Catecholaminergic Modulation of Large‐Scale Network Dynamics Is Tied to the Reconfiguration of Corticostriatal Connectivity

Ross, Thomas J., Korponay, Cole, Hill, Justine A., Salmeron, Betty Jo, Janes, Amy C.

2024

Overview

Large‐scale brain network function is critical for healthy cognition, yet links between such network function, neurochemistry, and smaller‐scale neurocircuitry are unclear. Here, we evaluated 59 healthy individuals using resting‐state fMRI to determine how network‐level temporal dynamics were impacted by two well‐characterized pharmacotherapies targeting catecholamines: methylphenidate (20 mg) and haloperidol (2 mg)—administered via randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled design. Network temporal dynamic changes were tested for links with drug‐induced alterations in complex corticostriatal connections as this circuit is a primary site of action for both drugs. Methylphenidate increased time in the default mode network state (DMN p < 0.001) and dorsal attention network state (DAN p < 0.001) and reduced time in the frontoparietal network state (p < 0.01). Haloperidol increased time in a sensory motor‐DMN state (p < 0.01). The magnitude of change in network dynamics induced by methylphenidate vs. placebo correlated with the magnitude of methylphenidate‐induced rearrangement of complex corticostriatal connectivity (R = 0.32, p = 0.014). Haloperidol did not alter complex corticostriatal connectivity. Methylphenidate enhanced time in network states involved in internal and external attention (DMN and DAN, respectively), aligning with methylphenidate's established role in attention. Methylphenidate also significantly changed complex corticostriatal connectivity by altering the relative strength between multiple corticostriatal connections, indicating that methylphenidate may shift which corticostriatal connections are prioritized relative to others. Findings show that these corticostriatal circuit changes are linked with large‐scale network temporal dynamics. Collectively, these findings provide a deeper understanding of large‐scale network function, set a stage for mechanistic understanding of network engagement, and provide useful information to guide medication use based on network‐level effects. Trial Registration: Registry name: ClinicalTrials.gov; URL: Brain Networks and Addiction Susceptibility—Full Text View—ClinicalTrials.gov; URL Plain text: https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01924468; Identifier: NCT01924468 At rest, the dopamine/norepinephrine agonist, methylphenidate, enhances time spent in external and internal attentional neurobiological states (DAN and DMN, respectively), suggesting the brain is primed to respond to different attentional demands. Large‐scale network dynamics relate to drug‐induced changes in complex corticostriatal connectivity, revealing direct links between circuit‐level and network‐level effects.

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subject: Addictions / Adult / Attention / Brain / Catecholamines / Cerebral Cortex - diagnostic imaging / Cerebral Cortex - drug effects / Cerebral Cortex - physiology / Cognition / Connectome / Corpus Striatum - diagnostic imaging / Corpus Striatum - drug effects / Corpus Striatum - physiology / cortical‐striatal circuitry / Default Mode Network - diagnostic imaging / Default Mode Network - drug effects / Default Mode Network - physiology / Dopamine / Double-Blind Method / Drug development / Drug dosages / Dynamics / Female / Functional magnetic resonance imaging / Haloperidol / Haloperidol - pharmacology / Humans / Investigations / Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Male / Methylphenidate / Methylphenidate - pharmacology / Nerve Net - diagnostic imaging / Nerve Net - drug effects / Nerve Net - physiology / network temporal dynamics / Neural networks / Neural Pathways - diagnostic imaging / Neural Pathways - drug effects / Neural Pathways - physiology / pharmacology / Placebos / Psychopathology / Reconfiguration / Secondary schools / Sensory evaluation / Young Adult