Comparison of brain network models using cross-frequency coupling and attack strategies.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Network Science
• Brain Imaging

Background:

• Brain connectivity networks are often described by small-world properties.
• Recent studies suggest a "rich-club" organization in structural brain networks, where hubs connect preferentially.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare small-world and rich-club models for describing functional brain connectivity.
• To identify which network topology model best represents brain connectivity using an "attack strategy".

Main Methods:

• Applied a targeted "attack strategy" to simulated rich-club and small-world networks.
• Analyzed magnetoencephalography (MEG) resting-state data from healthy controls and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) patients.
• Computed functional connectivity networks using phase-to-amplitude cross-frequency coupling in delta and beta bands.

Main Results:

• The "attack strategy" revealed that functional brain connectivity networks exhibit rich-club organization.
• This organization was consistent across healthy and mTBI patient groups.

Conclusions:

• Resting-state functional brain connectivity networks are best described by a rich-club organization.
• This finding has implications for understanding brain network topology in health and disease.