Tangent space functional reconfigurations in individuals at risk for alcohol use disorder

TL;DR

This study introduces a mathematical framework using tangent space projection to quantify brain functional reconfiguration during a stop signal task, revealing associations with alcohol use disorder risk factors.

Contribution

It applies Riemannian geometry to functional connectomes to measure reconfiguration, linking it to AUD risk factors in a novel way.

Findings

Functional reconfiguration correlates with family history of AUD.

Recent drinking negatively impacts task-related reconfiguration.

Tangent-FCs effectively characterize task-induced brain changes.

Abstract

Human brain function dynamically adjusts to ever-changing stimuli from the external environment. Studies characterizing brain functional reconfiguration are nevertheless scarce. Here we present a principled mathematical framework to quantify brain functional reconfiguration when engaging and disengaging from a stop signal task (SST). We apply tangent space projection (a Riemannian geometry mapping technique) to transform functional connectomes (FCs) of 54 participants and quantify functional reconfiguration using the correlation distance of the resulting tangent-FCs. Our goal was to compare functional reconfigurations in individuals at risk for alcohol use disorder (AUD). We hypothesized that functional reconfigurations when transitioning to/from a task would be influenced by family history of alcohol use disorder (FHA) and other AUD risk factors. Multilinear regression models showed that engaging and disengaging functional reconfiguration were associated with FHA and recent drinking. When engaging in the SST after a rest condition, functional reconfiguration was negatively associated with recent drinking, while functional reconfiguration when disengaging from the SST was negatively associated with FHA. In both models, several other factors contributed to the functional reconfiguration. This study 1demonstrates that tangent-FCs can characterize task-induced functional reconfiguration, and that it is related to AUD risk.