Dynamic analysis of the ageing functional brain

Dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) in resting-state fMRI holds promise to deliver
candidate biomarkers for prediction of brain function in health and disease. However,
the reliability and interpretability of dFC metrics remain contested. Moreover, these
have not been properly validated in a pre-clinical context (e.g. rodents) and integrated
with ancillary neurobiological endpoints. Using a complexity-science approach, the
project will quantify brain function using a large battery of phase-based dFC metrics.
These will include tools originated from dynamical systems, stochastic and information
dynamics approaches. Moreover, these metrics will be used to form novel descriptions
of rodent brain function during the life-cycle at the meso- and macro-scale. We are in a
unique position to fulfil the ambition of this project as, thanks to a 3-year BBSRC
funded project, we have already completed the longitudinal acquisition of structural
and functional MRI data over n=70 rats that were followed for two years with at least 4
imaging points each. An "active lifestyle" sub-group also underwent environmental
enrichment and dietary restriction between their early and late life. We have already
shown that machine learning applied to structural data can predict life-span in this
cohort (Busini et al., 2022). We now plan to develop even more accurate predictors
from fMRI data. The PhD student will have the support of the staff of the Neuroimaging
Department and of BRAIN, our preclinical imaging centre and in particular. 1st
Supervisor: Prof Turkheimer has a focused interest in the development of brain
functional markers and leads experimentation, data acquisition and analytics in this
area. 2nd Supervisor: Dr Paul Expert is a physicist with an interest in complex systems
and modelling of brain function using networks and statistical learning 3rd Supervisor:
Dr Diana Cash is preclinical scientist and expert in MRI, PET and methods such as
behaviour, histology, and autoradiography in rodents