Is Rest Really Rest? Resting-State Functional Connectivity During Rest and Motor Task Paradigms

Numerous studies have identified several large-scale networks within the brain of healthy individuals, some of which have been attributed to ongoing mental activity during the wakeful resting state. While engaged during specific resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigms, it remains unclear as to whether traditional block-design simple movement fMRI experiments significantly influence these mode networks or other areas. Using blood-oxygen level-dependent fMRI, we characterized the pattern of functional connectivity in healthy subjects during a resting-state paradigm and compared this with the same resting-state analysis performed on motor task data residual time courses after regressing out the task paradigm. Using seed-voxel analysis to define the default mode network, the executive control network (ECN), and sensorimotor, auditory, and visual networks, the resting-state analysis of the residual time courses demonstrated reduced functional connectivity in the motor network and reduced connectivity between the insula and the ECN compared with the standard resting-state data sets. Overall, performance of simple self-directed motor tasks does little to change the resting-state functional connectivity across the brain, especially in nonmotor areas. This would suggest that previously acquired fMRI studies incorporating simple block-design motor tasks could be mined retrospectively for assessment of the resting-state connectivity.