Metastability of resting-state bold fMRI as a reliable biomarker of individual brain dynamics: An interrogation of within-subject variability as a function of total acquisition time.
Network neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.) January 1, 2026 Hiba Sheheitli, Robert Hermosillo, Gracie Grimsrud et al.
Metastability of BOLD fMRI signals, a proxy for brain dynamics, shows within-subject reliability comparable to static functional connectivity when enough data are used, but the amount needed varies across brain networks. Combining network-specific metastability metrics into a single feature vector improves reliability by an order of magnitude. This finding was reproduced in the Midnight Scan Club dataset (10 subjects over 10 days). The measure also proved sensitive to change in brain dynamics under psilocybin. The authors conclude the combined feature vector is a promising candidate for individual-specific biomarkers and precision neuromodulation targets.