Dorsal-ventral precuneus gradients organise large-scale networks and track consciousness level

Dorsal-ventral precuneus gradients organise large-scale networks and track consciousness level | Research Square Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Dorsal-ventral precuneus gradients organise large-scale networks and track consciousness level Dian Lu, Adapa Ram, Robin Carhart-Harris, Leor Roseman, Adrian Owen, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8883514/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Large-scale functional connectivity (FC) networks are typically treated as discrete neuroanatomical entities, yet their organisation in regions where multiple systems converge remains poorly understood. Here we investigate the posterior precuneus (PCu)—a key hub of the default mode network (DMN) situated at the interface with the frontoparietal control network (FPCN)—using a spatial-derivative approach that quantifies how FC changes along the PCu's dorsal–ventral axis. Across five pharmacological datasets encompassing psychedelic and anaesthetic states, we demonstrate that the spatial derivative of functional connectivity (FC) recovers canonical DMN–FPCN organization with superior anatomical specificity compared to FC alone. This functional gradient is systematically modulated by consciousness level: its overall magnitude diminishes across all altered states of consciousness (ASCs), while its spatial entropy increases under psychedelics but decreases under sedation. These effects cannot be explained by local smoothing and instead suggest that the PCu embeds a continuous, anatomically constrained transition between large-scale networks that is sensitive to global brain-state dynamics. Our findings motivate a gradient-based perspective on functional network organisation and identify a parsimonious neural signature that tracks the brain’s dynamical repertoire across diverse ASCs. Biological sciences/Neuroscience Biological sciences/Psychology/Human behaviour Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information

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