Cited by 109Functional Brain Connectivity StudiesNeural dynamics and brain functionFace Recognition and Perception

Forward and backward connections in the brain: a DCM study of functional asymmetries

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Chen, C.C., Henson, R.N., Stephan, K.E., Kilner, J.M., Friston, K.J.·2009·NeuroImage

Abstract

In this paper, we provide evidence for functional asymmetries in forward and backward connections that define hierarchical architectures in the brain. We exploit the fact that modulatory or nonlinear influences of one neuronal system on another (i.e., effective connectivity) entail coupling between different frequencies. Functional asymmetry in forward and backward connections was addressed by comparing dynamic causal models of MEG responses induced by visual processing of normal and scrambled faces. We compared models with and without nonlinear (between-frequency) coupling in both forward and backward connections. Bayesian model comparison indicated that the best model had nonlinear forward and backward connections. Using the best model we then quantified frequency-specific causal influences mediating observed spectral responses. We found a striking asymmetry between forward and backward connections; in which high (gamma) frequencies in higher cortical areas suppressed low (alpha) frequencies in lower areas. This suppression was significantly greater than the homologous coupling in the forward connections. Furthermore, exactly the asymmetry was observed when we examined face-selective coupling (i.e., coupling under faces minus scrambled faces). These results highlight the importance of nonlinear coupling among brain regions and point to a functional asymmetry between forward and backward connections in the human brain that is consistent with anatomical and physiological evidence from animal studies. This asymmetry is also consistent with functional architectures implied by theories of perceptual inference in the brain, based on hierarchical generative models.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.12.041

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  • Predictive coding holds that top-down predictions suppress prediction errors in lower levels of a hierarchy.

    “Theoretically, this is consistent with predictive coding, where top-down predictions suppress prediction errors in lower levels of a hierarchy”

    From Network discovery with DCM (2011) · cites this paper as Chen et al., 2009

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Authors
Chen, C. C., Henson, R. N., Stephan, K. E., Kilner, J. M., & Friston, K. J.
Affiliations
  • Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging (GB)
  • MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit (GB)
Corresponding author
Chen, C.C.
Venue
NeuroImage
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-04
Volume
45
Issue
2
Pages
453-462
ISSN
1053-8119 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2120182026
Cited by
109
References
90
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 5
FWCI
4.36
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • NeuroImage (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
Funders
Wellcome Trust (088130)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
Keywords
functional asymmetry, effective connectivity, nonlinear coupling, face processing, MEG, perceptual inference, generative models, Bayesian model selection
MeSH terms
Brain Mapping, Computer Simulation, Evoked Potentials, Visual, Female, Humans, Functional Laterality, Male, Models, Neurological, Nerve Net, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Magnetoencephalography

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