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

Study Author Justine Hill

Featured Paper of the Month – March 2025

Published in Human Brain Mapping by Justine Hill and Amy Janes, et al. of the NIDA IRP Cognitive and Pharmacological Neuroimaging Unit.

Summary

Large networks of brain regions work together to support healthy cognition, and new neuroimaging techniques are helping us understand how medications affect these networks. In this study, we show that methylphenidate – a drug used to treat ADHD by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine – boosts the amount of time that the brain is engaged in both internal and external attention networks. This effect is linked to drug-induced changes in how the striatum, a brain region implicated in ADHD and substance use disorders, interacts with multiple cortical regions. These findings bring us closer to understanding how brain networks function and could eventually help us use neuroimaging to guide medication use, allowing for more personalized treatments that target brain function.

Publication Information

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

Catecholaminergic Modulation of Large-Scale Network Dynamics Is Tied to the Reconfiguration of Corticostriatal Connectivity Journal Article

In: Hum Brain Mapp, vol. 45, no. 17, pp. e70086, 2024, ISSN: 1097-0193.

Abstract | Links

@article{pmid39665506,

title = {Catecholaminergic Modulation of Large-Scale Network Dynamics Is Tied to the Reconfiguration of Corticostriatal Connectivity},

author = {Justine A Hill and Cole Korponay and Betty Jo Salmeron and Thomas J Ross and Amy C Janes},

url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39665506/},

doi = {10.1002/hbm.70086},

issn = {1097-0193},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-12-01},

urldate = {2024-12-01},

journal = {Hum Brain Mapp},

volume = {45},

number = {17},

pages = {e70086},

abstract = {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.},

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pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

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.