Identifying EEG Connections Associated with the Balance Between Alpha Functional Connectivity and Small-Worldness

Functional connectivity and small-worldness are widely used techniques to study brain network organization, and previous research has shown a negative correlation between them in the alpha frequency band. This study examines how specific electroencephalography (EEG) alpha-band connections contribute to the balance between functional connectivity and small-worldness. EEG was recorded from 80 healthy subjects in a resting-state, eyes-closed condition. Functional connectivity was estimated using magnitude-squared coherence (MSC), imaginary part of coherency (ICOH), and synchronization likelihood (SL), and small-worldness was calculated for each of these measures. The strongest negative correlation between functional connectivity and small-worldness was found in frontal-occipital and frontal connections. Given that these regions have been linked to the default mode network (DMN), the observed correlation may reflect DMN activity. These findings highlight a balance between functional network structure and connectivity and provide insight into how resting-state networks maintain functional organization. Future research should investigate how this balance shifts during cognitive tasks and in neurological disorders.Clinical Relevance- The current study is a step in understanding the physiology of a healthy brain networks, potentially aiding in the early detection and prevention of brain disorders.