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Structural brain network of gifted children has a more integrated and versatile topology

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Abstract

Gifted children learn more rapidly and effectively than others, presumably due to neurophysiological differences that affect efficiency in neuronal communication. Identifying the topological features that support its capabilities is relevant to understanding how the brain structure is related to intelligence. We proposed the analysis of the structural covariance network to assess which organizational patterns are characteristic of gifted children. The graph theory was used to analyse topological properties of structural covariance across a group of gifted children. The analysis was focused on measures of brain network integration, such as, participation coefficient and versatility, which quantifies the strength of specific modular affiliation of each regional node. We found that the gifted group network was more integrated (and less segregated) than the control group network. Brain regional nodes in the gifted group network had higher versatility and participation coefficient, indicating greater inter-modular communication mediated by connector hubs with links to many modules. Connector hubs of the networks of both groups were located mainly in association with neocortical areas (which had thicker cortex), with fewer hubs in primary or secondary neocortical areas (which had thinner cortex), as well as a few connector hubs in limbic cortex and insula. In the group of gifted children, a larger proportion of connector hubs were located in association cortex. In conclusion, gifted children have a more integrated and versatile brain network topology. This is compatible with the global workspace theory and other data linking integrative network topology to cognitive performance.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from the Ministerio de Economía y Competividad (PSI2013-47216-P) to JMSG. JSC was partially supported by a mobility grant from the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte (MINECO, ref. PRX15/00127) and by the Ministerio de Economía y Competividad through the grant TEC2016-77791-C4-2-R. RRG was supported by a strategic award from the Wellcome Trust to the University of Cambridge and University College London (095844/Z/11/Z) and the Guarantors of Brain Charity (264139). The authors would like to thank M. Shinn for his useful comments on the versatility parameter and for providing the code to calculate it.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Data and Signal Processing Group, University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia, Vic, Catalonia, Spain

    Jordi Solé-Casals

  2. Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Jordi Solé-Casals, Rafael Romero-Garcia & Edward T. Bullmore

  3. Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Pg. Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Josep M. Serra-Grabulosa & Ana Adan

  4. Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Josep M. Serra-Grabulosa & Ana Adan

  5. Digital Care Research Group, University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia, Vic, Catalonia, Spain

    Josep M. Serra-Grabulosa

  6. Oms Foundation, Manresa, Catalonia, Spain

    Gemma Vilaseca & Núria Vilaró

  7. Psychological Department, Oms and Prat school, Fundació Catalunya - La Pedrera, Manresa, Catalonia, Spain

    Gemma Vilaseca

  8. Centre de Diagnòstic per la Imatge, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Núria Bargalló

  9. Institute of Biomedical Research August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Núria Bargalló

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  1. Jordi Solé-Casals
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  3. Rafael Romero-Garcia
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Correspondence to Josep M. Serra-Grabulosa.

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Solé-Casals, J., Serra-Grabulosa, J.M., Romero-Garcia, R. et al. Structural brain network of gifted children has a more integrated and versatile topology. Brain Struct Funct 224, 2373–2383 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-019-01914-9

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