Metaanalytic connectivity modeling: Delineating the functional connectivity of the human amygdala

• Published in: Human brain mapping Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 173 - 184
• Main Authors: Robinson, Jennifer L., Laird, Angela R., Glahn, David C., Lovallo, William R., Fox, Peter T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.02.2010; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: Amygdala - physiology; Animals; Automation; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - physiology; brainmap; CoCoMac; Databases, Factual; Electrodiagnosis. Electric activity recording; fMRI; Functional Laterality; Haplorhini; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medical sciences; meta-analysis; Models, Neurological; Nervous system; Neural Pathways - physiology; PET; Primates; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Human; Nervous system diseases; Amygdala; Radiodiagnosis; meta-analysis; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Modeling; fMRI; CoCoMac; brainmap; Positron emission tomography; PET; Emission tomography
• ISSN: 1065-9471; 1097-0193
• DOI: 10.1002/hbm.20854

Functional neuroimaging has evolved into an indispensable tool for noninvasively investigating brain function. A recent development of such methodology is the creation of connectivity models for brain regions and related networks, efforts that have been inhibited by notable limitations. We present a new method for ascertaining functional connectivity of specific brain structures using metaanalytic connectivity modeling (MACM), along with validation of our method using a nonhuman primate database. Drawing from decades of neuroimaging research and spanning multiple behavioral domains, the method overcomes many weaknesses of conventional connectivity analyses and provides a simple, automated alternative to developing accurate and robust models of anatomically‐defined human functional connectivity. Applying MACM to the amygdala, a small structure of the brain with a complex network of connections, we found high coherence with anatomical studies in nonhuman primates as well as human‐based theoretical models of emotive‐cognitive integration, providing evidence for this novel method's utility. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.