Posterior dopamine D2/3 receptors and brain network functional connectivity

Abstract Recent studies suggest that dopaminergic tone influences resting state activity in multiple brain networks. Although dopamine receptors and transporters have been identified in the posteromedial and parietal cortices, which are linked to functional networks such as the default mode network (DMN), the relationship between dopamine receptor distribution in these posterior regions and resting‐state connectivity has yet to be explored. Here, we used a multi‐modal neuroimaging strategy, combining resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) and [18 F]‐fallypride high‐resolution positron emission tomography (PET), to examine the association between within‐network functional connectivity and the dopamine D2/3 receptor distribution in the posterior portion of the brain in 13 healthy adults. Our results indicate that the posterior distribution of D2/3 receptors coincides primarily with the posterior portion of the DMN. Furthermore, in the posterior portion of the brain, the level of [18 F]‐fallypride binding in the posteromedial cortex correlated positively with the functional connectivity strength of the DMN and sensorimotor network, and negatively with the functional connectivity strength of the dorsal attention network, the salience network, and a network that included the anterior part of the temporo‐parietal junction. On the basis of these findings, we propose that posterior brain dopamine influences the configuration of the posterior DMN and several other functional brain networks. The posterior distribution of D2/3 receptors binding (hot colour spectrum) coincides with the functional connectivity of the posterior portion of the default mode network (green colour spectrum). The mean BP ND in a posteromedial cortex and the mean ICA‐Z score in the precuneus showed significant positive correlation.