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Sources and Functional Consequences of Individual Differences in Human Functional Brain Networks Related to Controlled Behavior

Award Number: R01MH118370
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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Project Summary Large-scale networks of the human brain can be measured non-invasively using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). While most previous work has focused on group descriptions of functional networks, recent findings suggest that the study of highly-sampled single participants can reveal novel aspects of brain organization specific to an individual. Here, we focus on atypical locations where an individual’s functional networks do not match the group, which we call network variants. Preliminary data demonstrates that network variants are present across all individuals, but differ in location, number, and network assignment. Variants are most often associated with systems of the brain linked to goal-directed “controlled” processing. This observation is intriguing, given that individual differences in control functions are known to be large and heritable, and in extreme cases can be central contributions to pathology in disorders such as schizophrenia. Based on these preliminary findings, we develop a model, wherein we suggest that stable factors (e.g., genetics, long-term experience) reprioritize the functions of cortical areas, leading to the creation of network variants, altered task activations, and behavior. Our goal is to test this model by examining the sources and consequences of variants. Given that variants are most associated with regions related to controlled tasks, we focus our tests on control- related activations and behavior. We will test the following hypotheses: (Aim 1) variants represent stable, heritable, endophenotypes for individual differences in brain organization, (Aim 2) variants relate to individual differences in brain activations in control tasks, and (Aim 3) variants relate to individual differences in behavior in control tasks. In Aim 1 we propose addressing the trait-like nature of variants by measuring variant stability across states, and the similarity of variant patterns across unrelated individuals, mono-, and dizygotic twins. In Aim 2, we propose using a precision fMRI approach to measure variant activations across a range of control- related task contexts. Finally, in Aim 3 we propose examining whether variants are related to differences in control-related behavior. This proposal is innovative: it adopts cutting-edge methods for reliably characterizing networks in single individuals to study atypical components of brain networks (rather than group descriptions) and provides a new window into possible mechanisms underlying individual differences in brain organization, activations, and behavior. This proposal will impact (1) basic science, by expanding our understanding of individual variability in brain networks and their relationship to brain function and behavior, and (2) translational research, by laying groundwork for the study of extreme forms of individual differences in control found in psychopathology, potentially with future utility in personalized medicine. Thus, this proposal addresses RDoC goals by investigating (1) individual differences at multiple levels (brain organization, physiology, and behavior), (2) genetic and environmental sources for individual differences, and (3) potential biomarkers of dimensional individual differences linked to psychopathology.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $1,919 )
2025	2023	UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS	506 S WRIGHT ST	URBANA	IL	61801	CHAMPAIGN	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	002	7	1/22/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$0
2025	2023	FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY	874 TRADITIONS WAY	TALLAHASSEE	FL	32306	LEON	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	6	1/3/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$579,470
2025	2023	UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS	506 S WRIGHT ST	URBANA	IL	61801	CHAMPAIGN	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	7	1/4/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$581,389
														Subtotal = $1,919

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2024	2022	FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY	874 TRADITIONS WAY	TALLAHASSEE	FL	32306	LEON	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	003	5	2/2/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$374,159
2024	2022	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	002	4	2/2/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$1
2024	2021	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	2/2/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$295,509
2024	2021	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	3	2/2/2024	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	-$78,648
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $567,123 )
2023	2023	FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY	874 TRADITIONS WAY	TALLAHASSEE	FL	32306	LEON	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	002	6	6/2/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$579,471
2023	2022	FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY	874 TRADITIONS WAY	TALLAHASSEE	FL	32306	LEON	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	5	1/17/2023	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$724,019
2023	2022	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	1/17/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$736,367
														Subtotal = $567,123

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $736,368 )
2022	2022	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	6/6/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$736,368
														Subtotal = $736,368

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $810,390 )
2021	2021	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	6/23/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$640,045
2021	2021	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	3	7/27/2021	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$170,345
														Subtotal = $810,390

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $670,571 )
2020	2020	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	6/16/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$670,571
														Subtotal = $670,571

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $613,595 )
2019	2019	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST EVANSTON	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	1	9/11/2019	NEW	$0
2019	2019	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST EVANSTON	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	002	1	9/12/2019	NEW	$0
2019	2019	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST EVANSTON	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	003	1	9/24/2019	NEW	$0
2019	2019	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST EVANSTON	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	8/24/2019	NEW	$613,595
														Subtotal = $613,595

Grand Total All Awards = $3,399,966

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Sources and Functional Consequences of Individual Differences in Human Functional Brain Networks Related to Controlled Behavior

Award Number: R01MH118370

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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