Visual expertise modulates resting-state brain network dynamics in radiologists: a degree centrality analysis

Visual expertise reflects accumulated experience in reviewing domain-specific images and has been shown to modulate brain function in task-specific functional magnetic resonance imaging studies. However, little is known about how visual experience modulates resting-state brain network dynamics. To explore this, we recruited 22 radiology interns and 22 matched healthy controls and used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and the degree centrality (DC) method to investigate changes in brain network dynamics. Our results revealed significant differences in DC between the RI and control group in brain regions associated with visual processing, decision making, memory, attention control, and working memory. Using a recursive feature elimination-support vector machine algorithm, we achieved a classification accuracy of 88.64%. Our findings suggest that visual experience modulates resting-state brain network dynamics in radiologists and provide new insights into the neural mechanisms of visual expertise.

Automated summary

This study recruited 22 radiology interns and 22 matched healthy controls to investigate how visual experience modulates resting-state brain network dynamics. The results showed significant differences in brain regions associated with visual processing, decision making, memory, attention control, and working memory between the radiology interns and control group. Using a machine learning algorithm, they achieved a classification accuracy of 88.64%. These findings provide new insights into the neural mechanisms of visual expertise.