Investigating resting-state functional connectivity changes within procedural memory network across neuropsychiatric disorders using fMRI

Abstract Background Cognitive impairments are common in neuropsychiatric disorders like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder (BD), and schizophrenia (SZ). While previous research has focused on specific brain regions, the role of the procedural memory as a type of long-term memory to cognitive function in these disorders remains unclear. This study investigates the association between cognitive impairments and alterations in resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) within procedural memory network in patients with these disorders. Methods This study analyzed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from 40 individuals with ADHD, 49 with BD, 50 with SZ, and 50 healthy controls (HCs). A procedural memory network was defined based on the selection of 34 regions of interest (ROIs) associated with the network in the Harvard-Oxford Cortical Structural Atlas (default atlas). Multivariate ROI-to-ROI connectivity (mRRC) was used to analyze the rs-FC between the defined network regions. Significant differences in rs-FC between patients and HCs were identified (P < 0.001). Results ADHD patients showed increased Cereb45 l - Cereb3 r rs-FC (p = 0.000067) and decreased Cereb1 l - Cereb6 l rs-FC (p = 0.00092). BD patients exhibited increased rs-FC between multiple regions, including Claustrum r - Caudate r (p = 0.00058), subthalamic nucleus r - Pallidum l (p = 0.00060), substantia nigra l - Cereb2 l (p = 0.00082), Cereb10 r - SMA r (p = 0.00086), and Cereb9 r - SMA l (p = 0.00093) as well as decreased rs-FC in subthalamic nucleus r - Cereb6 l (p = 0.00013) and Cereb9 r - Cereb9 l (p = 0.00033). SZ patients indicated increased Caudate r– putamen l rs-FC (p = 0.00057) and decreased rs-FC in subthalamic nucleus r – Cereb6 l (p = 0.000063), and Cereb1 r – subthalamic nucleus r (p = 0.00063). Conclusions This study found significant alterations in rs-FC within the procedural memory network in patients with ADHD, BD, and SZ compared to HCs. These findings suggest that disrupted rs-FC within this network may contribute to cognitive impairments observed in these disorders.