Brainstem and Deep Gray Nuclei Modulate Brain Network Efficiency in Low-risk Term Newborns

In low-risk term newborns, network analysis of source EEG has identified the hub regions that play an important role in information transfer in the network. However, the network efficiency changes after removing particular hub regions are not yet clear. The resting state 124channel high-density electroencephalography (HD-EEG) was collected from low-risk term newborns within 72 hours after birth. The functional connectivity (spectral coherence) matrix was built using source EEG data in the delta band. The Small-World Propensity (SWP) metric was computed after removing each hub region individually and four hubs simultaneously. In the individual analysis, the SWP was significantly reduced after removing the right caudate, left thalamus, right thalamus, and brainstem among 18 hub regions from the functional brain network (P < 0.05). A significant reduction in the SWP was observed when the same four hubs were removed simultaneously. Our data provide evidence for reduced network efficiency after removing hubs in low-risk newborns. These findings highlight the critical role of specific hubs and demonstrate diminished network efficiency after their removal in low-risk term newborns.