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Resting-state functional MR imaging: a new window to the brain
Barkhof F, Haller S, Rombouts SA.. Radiology, 2014-07-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Resting-state (RS) functional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging constitutes a novel paradigm that examines spontaneous brain function by using blood oxygen level-dependent contrast in the absence of a task. Spatially distributed networks of temporal synchronization can be detected that can characterize RS networks (RSNs). With a short acquisition time of less than 10 minutes, RS functional MR imaging can be applied in special populations such as children and patients with dementia. Some RSNs are already present in utero, while others mature in childhood. Around 10 major RSNs are consistently found in adults, but their exact spatial extent and strength of coherence are affected by physiologic parameters and drugs. Though the acquisition and analysis methods are still evolving, new disease insights are emerging in a variety of neurologic and psychiatric disorders. The default mode network is affected in Alzheimer disease and various other diseases of cognitive impairment. Alterations in RSNs have been identified in many diseases, in the absence of evident structural modifications, indicating a high sensitivity of the method. Moreover, there is evidence of correlation between RSN alterations and disease progression and severity. However, different diseases often affect the same RSN, illustrating the limited specificity of the findings. This suggests that neurologic and psychiatric diseases are characterized by altered interactions between RSNs and therefore the whole brain should be examined as an integral network (with subnetworks), for example, using graph analysis. A challenge for clinical applications of RS functional MR imaging is the potentially confounding effect of aging, concomitant vascular diseases, or medication on the neurovascular coupling and consequently the functional MR imaging response. Current investigation combines RS functional MR imaging and other methods such as electroencephalography or magnetoencephalography to better understand the vascular and neuronal contributions to alterations in functional connectivity.
Key findings
- This suggests that neurologic and psychiatric diseases are characterized by altered interactions between RSNs and therefore the whole brain should be examined as an integral network (with subnetworks), for example, using graph analysis.
Why it matters
Resting-state functional MRI can detect brain network changes, including default mode network alterations in Alzheimer's disease, and these changes correlate with disease progression and severity. However, different diseases often affect the same networks, so this method has limited specificity and does not itself treat or cure Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 49/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Radiology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Radiology: journal h-index 431 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2014 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 375 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 26.8 citations a year over 14 year(s) since 2014 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 19.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 67 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Serge A.R.B. Rombouts: h-index 92 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam: institution h-index 938 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 24956047) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Barkhof, F., Haller, S., & Rombouts, S. A. (2014). Resting-state functional MR imaging: a new window to the brain. Radiology. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.14132388
Vancouver
Barkhof F, Haller S, Rombouts SA. Resting-state functional MR imaging: a new window to the brain. Radiology. 2014. doi:10.1148/radiol.14132388. PMID: 24956047.
BibTeX
@article{barkhof2014-24956047,
author = {Barkhof, F. and Haller, S. and Rombouts, S. A.},
title = {{Resting-state functional MR imaging: a new window to the brain}},
journal = {Radiology},
year = {2014},
doi = {10.1148/radiol.14132388},
pmid = {24956047},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.14132388}
}
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