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Network Analysis of the Default Mode Network Using Functional Connectivity MRI in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Published on: August 5, 2014
Altered functional connectivity and small-world in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy
Wei Liao1, Zhiqiang Zhang, Zhengyong Pan
1Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
Plos One
|January 15, 2010
Summary
Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) alters brain functional connectivity and network topology. Patients show increased medial temporal lobe connectivity but decreased frontal/parietal connections, suggesting potential disease markers.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Brain Imaging
- Network Science
Background:
- Brain function is understood via functional connectivity networks from resting-state neuronal fluctuations.
- Changes in these networks and their topology in brain diseases remain largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate alterations in functional connectivity and network topology in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE).
- Identify potential disease markers for mTLE based on observed brain network changes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 18 mTLE patients and 27 healthy controls.
- Measured functional connectivity between 90 cortical and subcortical regions using temporal correlation.
- Constructed undirected graphs to analyze network topology and properties.
Main Results:
- mTLE patients exhibited increased connectivity within medial temporal lobes.
- Decreased connectivity was observed within and between frontal and parietal lobes in mTLE patients.
- Altered small-world properties, including decreased connectivity degree and clustering, were noted in mTLE.
Conclusions:
- Observed alterations in functional connectivity and topological properties in mTLE patients may serve as tentative disease markers.
- These findings contribute to understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of mTLE.
