The neuroreceptors and transporters underlying spontaneous brain activity.
Communications biology July 30, 2025 Johan Nakuci, Kanika Bansal 1 citation
A neuroreceptor-based modeling framework using cortical density maps of 19 neuroreceptors and transporters from PET scans can reconstruct BOLD-derived brain activity. The framework identified two neuroreceptor modules: one linked to higher-order associative networks and another to somatomotor and visual networks. Applied to independent datasets, it recovered the binding profiles of LSD and Modafinil, consistent with known pharmacology. It also uncovered associations between neuroreceptors and altered brain activity in neuropsychiatric disorders. The findings suggest the framework can elucidate neuromodulatory mechanisms and advance understanding of brain function across diverse states and conditions.