Transactions of Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics
Alterations of Cerebral Functional Connectivity in Patients with Frontal Lobe Epilepsy: A Graph Theory Study
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Abstract:
The aim of the present study is to investigate the brain functional network changes of patients with frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) and graph theoretical analysis. rsfMRI is performed in 46 adult patients with FLE and 46 age-matched healthy controls (HCs). A functional network is built from these subjects, and the topological properties of such network are analyzed quantitatively using graph theoretical methods. According to the results, both FLE patients and HCs exhibit prominent small-world features. Compared with HCs, FLE shows a decrease in local efficiency (Eloc), clustering coefficient, nodal efficiency as well as nodal degree. Furthermore, FLE (seven) has fewer hubs than HCs (ten). The functional abnormalities in the network organization suggest functional disturbances in patients with FLE. This study helps to gain new insights into the functional disorder in patients with FLE. The networks built here can also be a set of potential biomarkers for the diagnosis, monitoring and the treatment of FLE.
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Clc Number:
R742
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