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This study aims to explore relationships between neural activity, neurovascular coupling (NVC) and neurotransmitter receptors, and their association with emotion and cognition in COVID-19 survivors. A total of 42 COVID-19 survivors and 30 matched healthy controls were recruited. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) and functional connectivity strength (FCS) were calculated for local and global neural activity, respectively. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is characterized as brain perfusion. Regional NVC is evaluated via CBF/ReHo and CBF/FCS ratios at the voxel level. Neurotransmitter receptor maps were derived from the JuSpace toolbox, which integrates positron emission tomography and single-photon emission computed tomography data from healthy populations, included 16 receptor/transporters, such as dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine and glutamate receptors, among others. The spatial correlations between neural activity, NVC and neurotransmitter receptor maps were subsequently established in COVID-19 survivors. No matter in neural activity or NVC, COVID-19 survivors mainly show decreased ReHo or CBF/ReHo pattern compared to HC. Moreover, the neurotransmitter receptor was strongly associated with only local neural activity (e.g., ReHo) and NVC (e.g., CBF/ReHo) in COVID-19 survivors. More specifically, the spatial pattern of ReHo was related to dopamine receptors, glutamate receptors, and noradrenaline transporters, but the CBF/ReHo was related only to dopamine receptors. Importantly, the correlation coefficients between ReHo and dopamine receptors or noradrenaline transporters were associated with cognitive performance in COVID-19 survivors. However, the correlation coefficients between CBF/ReHo and dopamine were correlated with depression in COVID-19 survivors. COVID-19 survivors exhibit dopamine receptor- and noradrenaline transporter-related disruption of local neural activity and NVC, which are associated with depression and cognitive performance, suggesting a potential molecular basis of impaired neural activity and NVC. • The study demonstrates altered local neural activity and neurovascular coupling in COVID-19 survivors. • The study confirms neurotransmitter receptors-related disruption maybe a potential molecular basis of impaired neural activity and neurovascular coupling in COVID-19 survivors. • The study suggests dopamine receptors and noradrenaline transporters-related disruptions are associated with depression and cognitive performance in COVID-19 survivors.
Wang et al. (Tue,) studied this question.