Cognitive functioning and functional brain networks in postoperative WHO grade I meningioma patients

Meningioma patients often have subtle cognitive deficits that might be attributed to the tumor itself, to surgical treatment, or to the occurrence of seizures and their treatment. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) analysis of resting-state functional networks (RSNs) could help to understand the neurophysiological basis of cognitive impairment in these patients. We explored the correlation between RSN functional connectivity and topology of functional networks on the one hand, and cognition on the other hand in WHO grade I meningioma patients.

Twenty adult WHO grade I meningioma patients who had undergone tumor resection, as well as 20 healthy matched controls, were included. Neuropsychological assessment was done through a standardized test battery. MEG data were recorded, and projected to the anatomical space of the Automated Anatomical Labeling atlas. Functional connectivity (PLI), within the default mode network (DMN) and the bilateral frontoparietal networks were correlated to cognitive performance. Minimum spanning tree (MST) characteristics were correlated with cognitive functioning.

Compared to healthy controls, meningioma patients had lower working memory capacity (p = 0.037). Within the patient group, lower working memory performance was associated with lower DMN connectivity and a lower maximum MST degree in the theta band (resp. p = 0.044 and p = 0.003).

This study shows that cognitive functioning is correlated with functional connectivity in the default mode network and hub-pathology in WHO grade I meningioma patients. Future longitudinal studies are needed to corroborate these findings and to further investigate the pathophysiology of cognitive deficits and possible changes in functional brain networks in meningioma patients.