Asthma is a serious health problem that involves not only the respiratory system but also the central nervous system. Previous studies identified either regional or network alterations in patients with asthma, but inconsistent results were obtained. A key question remains unclear: are the regional and neural network deficits related or are they two independent characteristics in asthma? Answering this question is the aim of this study. By collecting resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging from 39 patients with asthma and 40 matched health controls, brain functional measures including regional activity (amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations) and neural network function (degree centrality (DC) and functional connectivity) were calculated to systematically characterize the functional alterations. Patients exhibited regional abnormities in the left angular gyrus, right precuneus, and inferior temporal gyrus within the default mode network. Network abnormalities involved both the sensorimotor network and visual network with key regions including the superior frontal gyrus and occipital lobes. Altered DC in the lingual gyrus was correlated with the degree of airway obstruction. This study elucidated different patterns of regional and network changes, thereby suggesting that the two parameters reflect different brain characteristics of asthma. These findings provide evidence for further understanding the potential cerebral alterations in the pathophysiology of asthma.

哮喘是一个严重的健康问题，不仅涉及呼吸系统，还涉及中枢神经系统。先前的研究确定了哮喘患者的区域或网络改变，但结果不一致。一个关键问题仍然不清楚：哮喘的区域和神经网络缺陷是相关的还是它们的两个独立特征？回答这个问题是本研究的目的。通过收集39例哮喘患者和40例匹配的健康对照者的静息状态功能磁共振成像，计算了包括区域活动（低频波动幅度）和神经网络功能（中心度（DC）和功能连接性）在内的大脑功能指标系统地表征功能变更。在默认模式网络内，患者在左角回，右前突和颞下回表现出区域异常。网络异常涉及感觉运动网络和视觉网络，其关键区域包括上额回和枕叶。舌状回的DC改变与气道阻塞程度相关。这项研究阐明了区域和网络变化的不同模式，从而表明这两个参数反映了哮喘的不同脑部特征。这些发现为进一步了解哮喘的病理生理学中潜在的大脑改变提供了证据。网络异常涉及感觉运动网络和视觉网络，其关键区域包括上额回和枕叶。舌状回的DC改变与气道阻塞程度相关。这项研究阐明了区域和网络变化的不同模式，从而表明这两个参数反映了哮喘的不同脑部特征。这些发现为进一步了解哮喘的病理生理学中潜在的大脑改变提供了证据。网络异常涉及感觉运动网络和视觉网络，其关键区域包括上额回和枕叶。舌状回的DC改变与气道阻塞程度相关。这项研究阐明了区域和网络变化的不同模式，从而表明这两个参数反映了哮喘的不同脑部特征。这些发现为进一步了解哮喘的病理生理学中潜在的大脑改变提供了证据。因此表明这两个参数反映了哮喘的不同脑部特征。这些发现为进一步了解哮喘的病理生理学中潜在的大脑改变提供了证据。因此表明这两个参数反映了哮喘的不同脑部特征。这些发现为进一步了解哮喘的病理生理学中潜在的大脑改变提供了证据。