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Although the functional connectivity of patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) has been widely examined, less is known about brain white matter connectivity. The aim of this study was to explore structural network alterations for the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with chronic DOC. Eleven DOC patients and 11 sex- and age-matched controls were included in the study. Participants underwent diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and T1-weighted structural MRI at 7 tesla (7 T). Graph-theoretical analysis and network-based statistics were used to analyze the group differences. Two patients were scanned twice for a longitudinal study to examine the relationship between connectome metrics and the patients' prognoses. Compared with healthy controls, DOC patients showed significantly elevated transitivity (p < .001), local efficiency (p = .009), and clustering coefficient (p = .039). When comparing the connectome metrics within the three groups (healthy controls, minimally conscious state (MCS), and vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (VS/UWS)), significant group differences were observed in transitivity (p < .001) and local efficiency (p = .031). Significantly increased transitivity was observed in vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome compared with minimally conscious state (p = .0217, Bonferroni corrected). Transitivity showed significant negative correlations with the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised score (r = -0.6902, p = .023), consistent with the longitudinal study results. A subnetwork with significantly decreased structural connections was identified using network-based statistical analysis comparing DOC patients with healthy controls, which was mainly located in the frontal cortex, limbic system, and occipital and parietal lobes. This preliminary study suggests that graph theoretical approaches for assessing white matter connectivity may enable various states of DOC to be distinguished. Of the metrics analyzed, transitivity had a critical role in distinguishing the diagnostic groups. Larger cohorts will be necessary to confirm the predictive value of 7 T MRI in the prognosis of DOC patients.
Pubmed ID: 30711681
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MATLAB toolbox for performing functional connectivity analyses includes many of the most commonly-used approaches researchers have utilized to date for the identification of condition-dependent functional interactions between fMRI time-series obtained from two or more brain regions. The approaches are either bivariate or multivariate methods defined in time or frequency domains that emphasize distinct features of relationships among the time-series.
View all literature mentionsMatlab based cross platform software package for computation, display, and analysis of functional connectivity in fMRI (fcMRI). Used for resting state data (rsfMRI) as well as task related designs. Covers pipeline from raw fMRI data to hypothesis testing.
View all literature mentionsA software for diffusion MR images analysis. The provided functions include reconstruction (DTI, QBI, DSI, and GQI), deterministic fiber tracking, and 3D visualization. It has a window-based interface and operates on Microsoft Windows system.
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