RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Structural connectivity facilitates functional connectivity of auditory prediction error generation within a fronto-temporal network
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 365072
DO 10.1101/365072
A1 Lena K. L. Oestreich
A1 Roshini Randeniya
A1 Marta I. Garrido
YR 2018
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/07/09/365072.abstract
AB Auditory prediction errors, i.e. the mismatch between predicted and actual auditory input, are generated by a hierarchical functional network of cortical sources. This network is also interconnected by auditory white matter pathways. Hence it would be reasonable to assume that these structural and functional networks are quantitatively related, which is what the present study set out to investigate. Specifically, whether structural connectivity of auditory white matter pathways enables effective connectivity of auditory prediction error generation. Eighty-nine participants underwent diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Anatomically-constrained tractography was used to extract auditory white matter pathways, namely the bilateral arcuate fasciculus, the inferior occipito-frontal fasciculi (IOFF), and the auditory interhemispheric pathway, from which Apparent Fibre Density (AFD) was calculated. The same participants also underwent a stochastic oddball paradigm, which was used to elicit prediction error responses, while undergoing electroencephalographic recordings. Dynamic causal modelling (DCM) was used to investigate the effective connectivity of auditory prediction error generation in brain regions interconnected by the above mentioned auditory white matter pathways. Brain areas interconnected by all auditory white matter pathways best explained the dynamics of auditory prediction error responses. Furthermore, AFD in the right IOFF and right arcuate fasciculus significantly predicted the effective connectivity parameters underlying auditory prediction error generation. In conclusion, the generation of auditory prediction errors within an effectively connected, fronto-temporal network was found to be facilitated by the structural connectivity of auditory white matter pathways. These findings build upon the notion that structural connectivity facilitates dynamic interactions within brain regions that are effectively connected.Significance statement The brain continuously generates and updates hypotheses that predict forthcoming sensory input. Within the auditory domain, it has repeatedly been reported that these predictions about the auditory environment are facilitated by specific functional cortical connections. These functionally connected brain regions are also structurally connected via auditory white matter pathways. For the first time, this study provides quantitative evidence for a structural basis along which this functional network of auditory prediction error generation operates. This finding provides evidence for the notion that the functional connectivity of dynamically interacting brain areas is facilitated by structural connectivity amongst these brain areas.This work was funded by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function (ARC Centre Grant CE140100007), a University of Queensland Fellowship (2016000071), and a Foundation Research Excellence Award (2016001844) to MIG, as well as a University of Queensland International Research Scholarship to RR. The authors thank the participants for their time and Aiman Al-Najjar and Nicole Atcheson for assisting with data collection.