Cited by 2,747Functional Brain Connectivity StudiesAdvanced Neuroimaging Techniques and ApplicationsAdvanced MRI Techniques and Applications

Functional connectome fingerprinting: Identifying individuals using patterns of brain connectivity

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Finn, Emily S, Shen, Xilin, Scheinost, Dustin, Rosenberg, Monica D, Huang, Jessica, Chun, Marvin M, Papademetris, Xenophon, Constable, R Todd·2015·Nature Neuroscience

Abstract

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies typically collapse data from many subjects, but brain functional organization varies between individuals. Here we establish that this individual variability is both robust and reliable, using data from the Human Connectome Project to demonstrate that functional connectivity profiles act as a 'fingerprint' that can accurately identify subjects from a large group. Identification was successful across scan sessions and even between task and rest conditions, indicating that an individual's connectivity profile is intrinsic, and can be used to distinguish that individual regardless of how the brain is engaged during imaging. Characteristic connectivity patterns were distributed throughout the brain, but the frontoparietal network emerged as most distinctive. Furthermore, we show that connectivity profiles predict levels of fluid intelligence: the same networks that were most discriminating of individuals were also most predictive of cognitive behavior. Results indicate the potential to draw inferences about single subjects on the basis of functional connectivity fMRI.

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  1. Cattell, RB. Intelligence: Its Structure, Growth and Action: Its Structure, Growth and Action. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier; 1987.
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Authors
Finn, E. S., Shen, X., Scheinost, D., Rosenberg, M. D., Huang, J., Chun, M. M., Papademetris, X., & Constable, R. T.
Affiliations
Yale University (US)
Corresponding author
Finn, Emily S
Venue
Nature Neuroscience
Published
2015-10-12
Volume
18
Issue
11
Pages
1664-1671
ISSN
  • 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-1726
OpenAlex
W2111902267
Cited by
2,747
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 225 · 2025: 288 · 2024: 272 · 2023: 300 · 2022: 321 · 2021: 329 · 2020: 306 · 2019: 265 · 2018: 189 · 2017: 156 · 2016: 80 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 1
FWCI
87.05
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation (1U54MH091657)
  • National Institutes of Health (5u54mh091657-05, 1U54‐MH‐091657)
  • McDonnell Center for Systems Neuroscience (EB009666, 1U54MH091657)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (1U54 MH091657, U54-MH091657)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (T32DA022975)
  • National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (R01EB009666, EB009666)
  • NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research (EB009666, 1U54-MH-091657)
  • European Social Fund
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
Keywords
subject identification, frontoparietal network, fluid intelligence, Human Connectome Project
MeSH terms
Adult, Brain, Brain Mapping, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Nerve Net, Neural Pathways, Young Adult, Connectome

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