Burst breathing patterns during resting-state fMRI, which significantly modify functional connectivity, were more prevalent in males (45% of scans) compared to females (35% of scans).
Observational (n=440)
Prevalent breathing patterns, particularly sex-biased bursts, significantly alter resting-state fMRI signals and should be accounted for in functional connectivity studies.
Absolute Event Rate: 45% vs 35%
p-value: p=3.4e-8
Resting state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a tool for investigating human brain organization. Here we identify, visually and algorithmically, two prevalent influences on fMRI signals during 440 h of resting state scans in 440 healthy young adults, both caused by deviations from normal breathing which we term deep breaths and bursts. The two respiratory patterns have distinct influences on fMRI signals and signal covariance, distinct timescales, distinct cardiovascular correlates, and distinct tendencies to manifest by sex. Deep breaths are not sex-biased. Bursts, which are serial taperings of respiratory depth typically spanning minutes at a time, are more common in males. Bursts share features of chemoreflex-driven clinical breathing patterns that also occur primarily in males, with notable neurological, psychiatric, medical, and lifespan associations. These results identify common breathing patterns in healthy young adults with distinct influences on functional connectivity and an ability to differentially influence resting state fMRI studies.
Lynch et al. (Tue,) conducted a observational in Healthy (n=440). Male sex vs. Female sex was evaluated on Prevalence of burst breathing patterns in scans (p=3.4e-8). Burst breathing patterns during resting-state fMRI, which significantly modify functional connectivity, were more prevalent in males (45% of scans) compared to females (35% of scans).