Estimating the direction of functional connectivity (FC) can help further elucidate complex brain function. However, the estimation of directed FC at the voxel level in fMRI data, and evaluating its performance, has yet to be done. We therefore developed a novel directed seed-based connectivity analysis (SCA) method based on normalized pairwise Granger causality that provides greater detail and accuracy over ROI-based methods. We evaluated its performance against 145 cortical retrograde tracer injections in male and female marmosets that were used as ground truth cellular connectivity on a voxel-by-voxel basis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was calculated for each injection, and we achieved area under the ROC curve of 0.95 for undirected and 0.942 for directed SCA in the case of high cell count threshold. This indicates that SCA can reliably estimate the strong cellular connections between voxels in fMRI data. We then used our directed SCA method to analyze the human default mode network (DMN) and found that dlPFC (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) and temporal lobe were separated from other DMN regions, forming part of the language-network that works together with the core DMN regions. We also found that the cerebellum (Crus I-II) was strongly targeted by the posterior parietal cortices and dlPFC, but reciprocal connections were not observed. Thus, the cerebellum may not be a part of, but instead a target of, the DMN and language-network. Summarily, our novel directed SCA method, visualized with a new functional flat mapping technique, opens a new paradigm for whole-brain functional analysis.

In a new book, a curator at England's Natural History Museum describes rare and interesting nests and eggs—from the house sparrow to the village weaver—and the lessons they hold for avian conservation

The early polygraph machine was considered the most scientific way to detect deception—but that was a myth

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva today praised UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon for his support in the fight against hunger at a meeting with FAO member countries, the Committee [...]

Building on previous efforts, the Kingdom of Morocco will offer technical assistance to the Republic of Guinea through a South-South Cooperation Tripartite Agreement signed today at FAO headquarters by FAO [...]

Prince Laurent of Belgium was today appointed FAO Special Ambassador for Forests and the Environment.

The announcement was made by FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva at the Organization’s Committee on [...]

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva will be away from Rome during the next few weeks. During this period he will be involved in a range of [...]

Bagdad/Rome - FAO is scaling-up critical food and agriculture assistance to highly vulnerable rural households in Iraq thanks to a generous $14.7 million grant from Saudi Arabia. The donation is [...]

The [...]

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva today appointed Jacques Diouf as Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa and the Sahel.

In his new role, the former Director-General Jacques Diouf will [...]

FAO Director-General Graziano da Silva today opened the 150th session of the FAO Council, highlighting the successful conclusion of the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2), held last month in [...]

5 December 2014, Rome – At the closure of the FAO Council held today, the [...]

Berlin- FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva has highlighted some of the most important events on the organization’s 2015 calendar during meetings with agriculture ministers who attended the Global Forum [...]

Just announced by the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean Countries (GRULAC)

The Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC) of FAO in Rome is pleased to endorse the [...]

Rome - José Graziano da Silva, the [...]

Rome, The Africa Regional Group of Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives accredited  to the Rome based UN Agencies have announced the endorsement of the candidature of Dr. José Graziano da Silva [...]

Rome, 02 March 2015 - In a letter addressed to the Director-General, the Chairperson of the Near East Regional Group has announced their endorsement of the candidature [...]

In a letter addressed to the Director-General, the Ambassador of Malaysia to FAO, on behalf of the Chair of the Asia Group, has announced the endorsement of the [...]

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva has been selected as one of the world's most influential Latin Americans for his work against hunger and malnutrition in the world. In its [...]

Q: Ambassador, how did the Programme Committee in its recent session judge FAO's contribution to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition?

Ambassador Hoogeveen: [...]

Today we celebrate the cultural heritage, health benefits and economic importance of tea.

It’s official! As of Monday, 6 July, FAO is opening its doors online and offering virtual group visits. While guided tours at FAO headquarters are suspended as a measure amidst [...]

Celebrated in over 150 countries around the world, this year’s edition of World Food Day marked the 75th anniversary of the foundation of FAO. With the theme “Grow, nourish, sustain. Together. Our [...]