Journal Article

Functional Brain Network of Trait Impulsivity: Whole‐Brain Functional Connectivity Predicts Self‐Reported Impulsivity

Weidler, Carmen, Hüpen, Philippa, Swaminathan, Ramakrishnan, Müller, Dario, Kumar, Himanshu, Habel, Ute

2024

Overview

ABSTRACT Given impulsivity's multidimensional nature and its implications across various aspects of human behavior, a comprehensive understanding of functional brain circuits associated with this trait is warranted. In the current study, we utilized whole‐brain resting‐state functional connectivity data of healthy males (n = 156) to identify a network of connections predictive of an individual's impulsivity, as assessed by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS)‐11. Our participants were selected, in part, based on their self‐reported BIS‐11 impulsivity scores. Specifically, individuals who reported high or low trait impulsivity scores during screening were selected first, followed by those with intermediate impulsivity levels. This enabled us to include participants with rare, extreme scores and to cover the entire BIS‐11 impulsivity spectrum. We employed repeated K‐fold cross‐validation for feature‐selection and used stratified 10‐fold cross‐validation to train and test our models. Our findings revealed a widespread neural network associated with trait impulsivity and a notable correlation between predicted and observed scores. Feature importance and node degree were assessed to highlight specific nodes and edges within the impulsivity network, revealing previously overlooked key brain regions, such as the cerebellum, brainstem, and temporal lobe, while supporting previous findings on the basal ganglia‐thalamo‐prefrontal network and the prefrontal‐motor strip network in relation to impulsiveness. This deepened understanding establishes a foundation for identifying alterations in functional brain networks associated with dysfunctional impulsivity. This study utilized machine learning to analyze whole‐brain functional connectivity data, mapping trait impulsivity. Findings revealed previously overlooked key brain regions within the impulsivity network, such as the cerebellum, brainstem, and temporal lobe, while supporting previous research on the basal ganglia‐thalamo‐prefrontal and the prefrontal‐motor strip network.

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subject: Adult / Basal ganglia / Brain / Brain - diagnostic imaging / Brain - physiology / Brain research / Brain stem / Cerebellum / Connectome / Contraindications / Functional morphology / Ganglia / Humans / Impulsive behavior / Impulsive Behavior - physiology / Impulsivity / individual differences / Investigations / machine learning / Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Male / Mental disorders / Nerve Net - diagnostic imaging / Nerve Net - physiology / Neural networks / Personality - physiology / Psychopathology / resting‐state functional connectivity / Self Report / Temporal lobe / Young Adult