The developing relations between networks of cortical myelin and neurophysiological connectivity

Abstract

Recent work identified that patterns of distributed brain regions sharing similar myeloarchitecture are related to underlying functional connectivity, demonstrating cortical myelin's plasticity to changes in functional demand. However, the changing relations between functional and structural architecture throughout child and adulthood are poorly understood. We show that structural covariance connectivity (T1-weighted/T2-weighted ratio) and functional connectivity (magnetoencephalography) exhibit nonlinear developmental changes. We then show significant relations between structural and functional connectivity, which have shared and distinct characteristics dependent on the neural oscillatory frequency. Increases in structure-function coupling are visible during the protracted myelination observed throughout childhood and adolescence and are followed by decreases near the onset of adulthood. Our work lays the foundation for understanding the mechanisms by which myeloarchitecture supports brain function, enabling future investigations into how clinical populations may deviate from normative patterns.