Brain Myelin Covariance Networks: Gradients, Cognition, and Higher-Order Landscape

TL;DR

This study maps brain myelin patterns and their connections, revealing how they relate to cognitive functions and brain structure.

Contribution

The paper introduces vertex-level myelin covariance gradients and their associations with cognition and white matter integrity.

Findings

The primary myelin gradient spans from sensory-motor to association cortices and correlates with connectivity strength.

Negative myelin covariance connections show star-like structures, while positive connections show path-like and triangular structures.

Myelin gradients correlate with fractional anisotropy, indicating links between gray and white matter integrity.

Abstract

Myelin is essential for efficient neural signaling and can be quantitatively evaluated using the T1-weighted/T2-weighted (T1w/T2w) ratio as a proxy for regional myelin content. Myelin covariance networks (MCNs) reflect correlated myelin patterns across brain regions, enabling the investigation of topological organization. However, a vertex-level map of myelin covariance gradients and their cognitive associations remains underexplored. The objective of this study was to construct and characterize vertex-level MCNs, identify their principal gradients, map their higher-order topological landscape, and determine their associations with cognitive functions and other multimodal cortical features. We conducted a cross-sectional, secondary analysis of publicly available data from the Human Connectome Project (HCP). The dataset included T1w/T2w MRI data from 1096 healthy adult participants (age 22–37). All original data collection and sharing procedures were approved by the Washington University institutional review board. Our procedures involved (1) constructing a vertex-wise MCN from T1w/T2w ratio data; (2) applying gradient analysis to identify principal organizational axes; (3) calculating network connectivity strength; (4) performing cognitive meta-analysis using Neurosynth; and (5) using graphlet analysis to assess higher-order topology. Our results show that the primary myelin gradient (Gradient 1) spans from sensory-motor to association cortices, strongly associates with connectivity strength (r = 0.66), and shows a functional dissociation between affective processing and sensorimotor domains. Furthermore, Gradient 2, as well as the positive and full connectivity strength, showed robust correlations with fractional anisotropy (FA), a DTI metric reflecting white matter microstructure. Our higher-order analysis also revealed that negative and positive myelin covariance connections exhibited distinct topologies. Negative connections were dominated by star-like graphlet structures, while positive connections were dominated by path-like and triangular structures. This systematic vertex-level investigation offers novel insights into the organizational principles of cortical myelin, linking gray matter myelin patterns to white matter integrity, and providing a valuable reference for neuropsychological research and the potential identification of biomarkers for neurological disorders.

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