Changes in EEG Microstate Dynamics and Cognition Post-Chemotherapy in People With Breast Cancer

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Oncology
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Chemotherapy for breast cancer can lead to cognitive changes.
• Brain network dynamics underlying these changes are not well understood.
• This study investigated cognitive function and brain activity in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore changes in cognitive function and resting-state brain dynamics after chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.
• To compare self-reported and objective cognitive measures.
• To analyze electroencephalography (EEG) microstates to understand alterations in large-scale neural networks.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the ACTIVATE trial, including eight female breast cancer patients (ages 30-52).
• Assessed cognition using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) and Trail Making Test (TMT).
• Analyzed resting-state (RS) eyes-closed EEG data, extracting seven microstates to compute duration and occurrence.

Main Results:

• Significant decrease in PROMIS scores (self-reported cognition) post-chemotherapy (p=0.003).
• No significant change in TMT scores (objective cognition).
• Increased microstate durations (p<0.001) and altered distribution post-chemotherapy, with microstate D (attention/executive functions) duration significantly increasing (p=0.007).

Conclusions:

• Chemotherapy is associated with self-reported cognitive impairment and altered resting-state brain dynamics.
• This study provides evidence of changes in large-scale brain network dynamics linked to chemotherapy's cognitive effects.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the relationship between cognitive function and brain network alterations post-chemotherapy.