Spontaneous cortical dynamics from the first years to the golden years

In the largest and most expansive lifespan magnetoencephalography (MEG) study to date (n = 434, 6 to 84 y), we provide critical data on the normative trajectory of rest-ing-state spontaneous activity and its temporal dynamics. We perform cutting-edge analyses to examine age and sex effects on whole-brain, spatially-resolved relative and absolute power maps, and find significant age effects in all spectral bands in both types of maps. Specifically, lower frequencies showed a negative correlation with age, while higher frequencies positively correlated with age. These correlations were further probed with hierarchical regressions, which revealed significant nonlinear trajectories in key brain regions. Sex effects were found in absolute but not relative power maps, high-lighting key differences between outcome indices that are generally used interchangea-bly. Our rigorous and innovative approach provides multispectral maps indicating the unique trajectory of spontaneous neural activity across the lifespan, and illuminates key methodological considerations with the widely used relative/absolute power maps of spontaneous cortical dynamics.

Automated summary

This study provides critical data on the normative trajectory of rest-ing-state spontaneous activity and its temporal dynamics. Age and sex effects on whole-brain, spatially-resolved relative and absolute power maps were examined, revealing significant correlations with age and sex differences in absolute power maps. The study highlights methodological considerations with relative/absolute power maps of spontaneous cortical dynamics.