Characterization of Resting-State Functional Connectivity Changes in Hypertension by a Modified Difference Degree...

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Graph Theory
• Systems Neuroscience

Background:

• Hypertension impacts over a billion people globally.
• Neuroimaging offers insights into disease-related brain changes.
• Understanding brain organization in hypertension is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate organizational differences in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data between hypertensive and normotensive individuals.
• To apply a modified graph theory approach, specifically a modified difference degree test (DDT), for detecting groupwise differences.
• To enhance the accuracy and reliability of detecting brain network alterations in hypertension.

Main Methods:

• Collected structural and rs-fMRI data from 52 participants (29 hypertensive, 23 normotensive).
• Generated functional connectivity maps using partial correlation analysis.
• Developed and validated a modified DDT algorithm for statistical testing of group differences.

Main Results:

• The modified DDT demonstrated higher true positivity rates compared to the standard DDT.
• False positivity rates were maintained below 5% across trials.
• Differential brain organization was observed in hypertensive participants, including the default mode network.

Conclusions:

• The modified DDT accurately discerns groupwise differences in rs-fMRI data.
• Findings suggest altered brain organization in hypertension, aligning with previous research.
• The enhanced DDT method holds promise for future studies on groupwise brain organization.