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Updated: Jul 9, 2025
Functional Mapping with Simultaneous MEG and EEG
Published on: June 14, 2010
Mapping brain functional networks topological characteristics in new daily persistent headache: a
Dong Qiu1, Zhaoli Ge2, Yanliang Mei1
1Department of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.119 South Fourth Ring West Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China.
Background:
The brain functional network topology in new daily persistent headache (NDPH) is not well understood. In this study, we aim to assess the cortical functional network topological characteristics of NDPH using non-invasive neural signal recordings.
Methods:
Resting-state magnetoencephalography (MEG) was used to measure power fluctuations in neuronal oscillations from distributed cortical parcels in 35 patients with NDPH and 40 healthy controls (HCs). Their structural data were collected by 3T MRI. Functional connectivity (FC) of neural networks from 1 to 80 Hz frequency ranges was analyzed with topographic patterns and calculated network topological parameters with graph theory.
Results:
In the delta (1-4 Hz) and beta (13-30 Hz) bands, the lateral occipital cortex and superior frontal gyrus FC were increased in NDPH groups compared to HCs. Graph theory analysis revealed that the NDPH had significantly increased global efficiency in the delta band and decreased nodal clustering coefficient (left medial orbitofrontal cortex) in the theta (4-8 Hz) band. The clinical characteristics had a significant correlation with network topological parameters. Age at onset of patients showed a positive correlation with global efficiency in the delta band. The degree of depression of patients showed a negative correlation with the nodal clustering coefficient (left medial orbitofrontal cortex) in the theta band.
Conclusion:
The FC and topology of NDPH in brain networks may be altered, potentially leading to cortical hyperexcitability. Moreover, medial orbitofrontal cortex is involved in the pathophysiological mechanism of depression in patients with NDPH. Increased FC observed in the lateral occipital cortex and superior frontal gyrus during resting-state MEG could serve as one of the imaging characteristics associated with NDPH.
