Dr. Suhnyoung Jun, UIUC, will lecture on "Genetic Effects on the
Temporal Organization of Rapid Connectome Dynamics and Associated Cognitive Functions".
Abstract: The brain is inherently dynamic, capable of flexibly reorganizing its functional architecture (the “connectome”) even in the absence of explicit tasks. These dynamic reconfigurations of the connectome are crucial in shaping cognitive abilities and complex brain functions. Specifically, the time-varying characteristics of the brain’s functional connectome are unique to each individual and predictive of their cognitive abilities. However, a critical gap remains in understanding which of these dynamic traits are heritable phenotypes and how variability in connectome dynamics contributes to differences in cognitive abilities across individuals. In this talk, I will present our recent findings, which reveal substantial genetic influence and cognitive significance of temporal connectome characteristics. The focus will be on the rapid source-space EEG connectome dynamics, building on our prior fMRI work. Our studies demonstrate that genetic factors shape connectome dynamics at rapid timescales, particularly influencing the overall occurrence and sequencing of connectome states. Moreover, these rapid state transitions are linked to individual cognitive abilities and traits. Subsecond connectome dynamics could offer insights into behavioral function and dysfunction and serve as endophenotypes for cognitive abilities.