A study of dynamic functional connectivity changes in flight trainees based on a triple network model

Abstract The time-varying functional connectivity of the Central Executive Network (CEN), Default Mode Network (DMN), and Salience Network (SN) in flight trainees during a resting state was investigated using dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC). The study included 39 flight trainees and 3...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lu Ye¹, Liya Ba¹, Dongfeng Yan¹
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89023-y
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849761825677115392
author Lu Ye¹
Liya Ba¹
Dongfeng Yan¹
author_facet Lu Ye¹
Liya Ba¹
Dongfeng Yan¹
author_sort Lu Ye¹
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The time-varying functional connectivity of the Central Executive Network (CEN), Default Mode Network (DMN), and Salience Network (SN) in flight trainees during a resting state was investigated using dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC). The study included 39 flight trainees and 37 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Resting-state fMRI data and behavioral test outcomes were obtained from both groups. Independent component analysis (ICA), sliding window, and K-means clustering approaches were utilized for evaluating functional network connectivity (FNC) and temporal metrics based on the triple networks. Correlation analyses were performed on the behavioral assessments and these metrics. The flight trainees demonstrated a significantly enhanced functional connection linking the CEN and DMN in state 2 (P < 0.05, FDR corrected). Additionally, flight trainees spent less time in state 5, while they exhibited a protracted mean dwell time and fractional windows in state 2, which were significantly correlated with accuracy on the Berg Card Sorting Test (BCST) and Change Detection Test (all P < 0.05). The improved connectivity of flight trainees between the CEN and DMN following the completion of rigorous flight training resulted in increased stability. This enhancement may be relevant to cognitive abilities such as decision-making, memory, and information integration. When multitasking, flight trainees displayed superior visual processing skills and enhanced cognitive flexibility. dFNC research provides a unique perspective on the sophisticated cognitive capabilities that are required in high-demand, high-stress occupations such as piloting, thereby providing significant insights into the intricate brain mechanisms that are inherent in these domains.
format Article
id doaj-art-8785a216d3dd494caf0e7aafc9bcfd3c
institution DOAJ
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-8785a216d3dd494caf0e7aafc9bcfd3c2025-08-20T03:05:53ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-89023-yA study of dynamic functional connectivity changes in flight trainees based on a triple network modelLu Ye¹0Liya Ba¹1Dongfeng Yan¹2¹Institute of Flight Technology, Civil Aviation Flight University of China¹Institute of Flight Technology, Civil Aviation Flight University of China¹Institute of Flight Technology, Civil Aviation Flight University of ChinaAbstract The time-varying functional connectivity of the Central Executive Network (CEN), Default Mode Network (DMN), and Salience Network (SN) in flight trainees during a resting state was investigated using dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC). The study included 39 flight trainees and 37 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Resting-state fMRI data and behavioral test outcomes were obtained from both groups. Independent component analysis (ICA), sliding window, and K-means clustering approaches were utilized for evaluating functional network connectivity (FNC) and temporal metrics based on the triple networks. Correlation analyses were performed on the behavioral assessments and these metrics. The flight trainees demonstrated a significantly enhanced functional connection linking the CEN and DMN in state 2 (P < 0.05, FDR corrected). Additionally, flight trainees spent less time in state 5, while they exhibited a protracted mean dwell time and fractional windows in state 2, which were significantly correlated with accuracy on the Berg Card Sorting Test (BCST) and Change Detection Test (all P < 0.05). The improved connectivity of flight trainees between the CEN and DMN following the completion of rigorous flight training resulted in increased stability. This enhancement may be relevant to cognitive abilities such as decision-making, memory, and information integration. When multitasking, flight trainees displayed superior visual processing skills and enhanced cognitive flexibility. dFNC research provides a unique perspective on the sophisticated cognitive capabilities that are required in high-demand, high-stress occupations such as piloting, thereby providing significant insights into the intricate brain mechanisms that are inherent in these domains.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89023-yFlight traineesResting-state fMRIDynamic functional network connectivityIndependent component analysis
spellingShingle Lu Ye¹
Liya Ba¹
Dongfeng Yan¹
A study of dynamic functional connectivity changes in flight trainees based on a triple network model
Scientific Reports
Flight trainees
Resting-state fMRI
Dynamic functional network connectivity
Independent component analysis
title A study of dynamic functional connectivity changes in flight trainees based on a triple network model
title_full A study of dynamic functional connectivity changes in flight trainees based on a triple network model
title_fullStr A study of dynamic functional connectivity changes in flight trainees based on a triple network model
title_full_unstemmed A study of dynamic functional connectivity changes in flight trainees based on a triple network model
title_short A study of dynamic functional connectivity changes in flight trainees based on a triple network model
title_sort study of dynamic functional connectivity changes in flight trainees based on a triple network model
topic Flight trainees
Resting-state fMRI
Dynamic functional network connectivity
Independent component analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89023-y
work_keys_str_mv AT luye1 astudyofdynamicfunctionalconnectivitychangesinflighttraineesbasedonatriplenetworkmodel
AT liyaba1 astudyofdynamicfunctionalconnectivitychangesinflighttraineesbasedonatriplenetworkmodel
AT dongfengyan1 astudyofdynamicfunctionalconnectivitychangesinflighttraineesbasedonatriplenetworkmodel
AT luye1 studyofdynamicfunctionalconnectivitychangesinflighttraineesbasedonatriplenetworkmodel
AT liyaba1 studyofdynamicfunctionalconnectivitychangesinflighttraineesbasedonatriplenetworkmodel
AT dongfengyan1 studyofdynamicfunctionalconnectivitychangesinflighttraineesbasedonatriplenetworkmodel