scholarly journals Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment: Pathophysiological Insights into Brain Disconnectome from Advanced Neuroimaging Analysis Techniques

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-311
Author(s):  
Jae-Sung Lim ◽  
Jae-Joong Lee ◽  
Choong-Wan Woo

The neurological symptoms of stroke have traditionally provided the foundation for functional mapping of the brain. However, there are many unresolved aspects in our understanding of cerebral activity, especially regarding high-level cognitive functions. This review provides a comprehensive look at the pathophysiology of post-stroke cognitive impairment in light of recent findings from advanced imaging techniques. Combining network neuroscience and clinical neurology, our research focuses on how changes in brain networks correlate with post-stroke cognitive prognosis. More specifically, we first discuss the general consequences of stroke lesions due to damage of canonical resting-state large-scale networks or changes in the composition of the entire brain. We also review emerging methods, such as lesion-network mapping and gradient analysis, used to study the aforementioned events caused by stroke lesions. Lastly, we examine other patient vulnerabilities, such as superimposed amyloid pathology and blood-brain barrier leakage, which potentially lead to different outcomes for the brain network compositions even in the presence of similar stroke lesions. This knowledge will allow a better understanding of the pathophysiology of post-stroke cognitive impairment and provide a theoretical basis for the development of new treatments, such as neuromodulation.

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (48) ◽  
pp. 12827-12832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Vidaurre ◽  
Stephen M. Smith ◽  
Mark W. Woolrich

The brain recruits neuronal populations in a temporally coordinated manner in task and at rest. However, the extent to which large-scale networks exhibit their own organized temporal dynamics is unclear. We use an approach designed to find repeating network patterns in whole-brain resting fMRI data, where networks are defined as graphs of interacting brain areas. We find that the transitions between networks are nonrandom, with certain networks more likely to occur after others. Further, this nonrandom sequencing is itself hierarchically organized, revealing two distinct sets of networks, or metastates, that the brain has a tendency to cycle within. One metastate is associated with sensory and motor regions, and the other involves areas related to higher order cognition. Moreover, we find that the proportion of time that a subject spends in each brain network and metastate is a consistent subject-specific measure, is heritable, and shows a significant relationship with cognitive traits.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mite Mijalkov ◽  
Ehsan Kakaei ◽  
Joana B. Pereira ◽  
Eric Westman ◽  
Giovanni Volpe ◽  
...  

AbstractThe brain is a large-scale complex network whose workings rely on the interaction between its various regions. In the past few years, the organization of the human brain network has been studied extensively using concepts from graph theory, where the brain is represented as a set of nodes connected by edges. This representation of the brain as a connectome can be used to assess important measures that reflect its topological architecture. We have developed a freeware MatLab-based software (BRAPH – BRain Analysis using graPH theory) for connectivity analysis of brain networks derived from structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and electroencephalogram (EEG) data. BRAPH allows building connectivity matrices, calculating global and local network measures, performing non-parametric permutations for group comparisons, assessing the modules in the network, and comparing the results to random networks. By contrast to other toolboxes, it allows performing longitudinal comparisons of the same patients across different points in time. Furthermore, even though a user-friendly interface is provided, the architecture of the program is modular (object-oriented) so that it can be easily expanded and customized. To demonstrate the abilities of BRAPH, we performed structural and functional graph theory analyses in two separate studies. In the first study, using MRI data, we assessed the differences in global and nodal network topology in healthy controls, patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment, and patients with Alzheimer’s disease. In the second study, using resting-state fMRI data, we compared healthy controls and Parkinson’s patients with mild cognitive impairment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 681-689
Author(s):  
Jalal Mirakhorli ◽  
Hamidreza Amindavar ◽  
Mojgan Mirakhorli

AbstractFunctional magnetic resonance imaging a neuroimaging technique which is used in brain disorders and dysfunction studies, has been improved in recent years by mapping the topology of the brain connections, named connectopic mapping. Based on the fact that healthy and unhealthy brain regions and functions differ slightly, studying the complex topology of the functional and structural networks in the human brain is too complicated considering the growth of evaluation measures. One of the applications of irregular graph deep learning is to analyze the human cognitive functions related to the gene expression and related distributed spatial patterns. Since a variety of brain solutions can be dynamically held in the neuronal networks of the brain with different activity patterns and functional connectivity, both node-centric and graph-centric tasks are involved in this application. In this study, we used an individual generative model and high order graph analysis for the region of interest recognition areas of the brain with abnormal connection during performing certain tasks and resting-state or decompose irregular observations. Accordingly, a high order framework of Variational Graph Autoencoder with a Gaussian distributer was proposed in the paper to analyze the functional data in brain imaging studies in which Generative Adversarial Network is employed for optimizing the latent space in the process of learning strong non-rigid graphs among large scale data. Furthermore, the possible modes of correlations were distinguished in abnormal brain connections. Our goal was to find the degree of correlation between the affected regions and their simultaneous occurrence over time. We can take advantage of this to diagnose brain diseases or show the ability of the nervous system to modify brain topology at all angles and brain plasticity according to input stimuli. In this study, we particularly focused on Alzheimer’s disease.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
RL van den Brink ◽  
S Nieuwenhuis ◽  
TH Donner

ABSTRACTThe widely projecting catecholaminergic (norepinephrine and dopamine) neurotransmitter systems profoundly shape the state of neuronal networks in the forebrain. Current models posit that the effects of catecholaminergic modulation on network dynamics are homogenous across the brain. However, the brain is equipped with a variety of catecholamine receptors with distinct functional effects and heterogeneous density across brain regions. Consequently, catecholaminergic effects on brain-wide network dynamics might be more spatially specific than assumed. We tested this idea through the analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measurements performed in humans (19 females, 5 males) at ‘rest’ under pharmacological (atomoxetine-induced) elevation of catecholamine levels. We used a linear decomposition technique to identify spatial patterns of correlated fMRI signal fluctuations that were either increased or decreased by atomoxetine. This yielded two distinct spatial patterns, each expressing reliable and specific drug effects. The spatial structure of both fluctuation patterns resembled the spatial distribution of the expression of catecholamine receptor genes: α1 norepinephrine receptors (for the fluctuation pattern: placebo > atomoxetine), ‘D2-like’ dopamine receptors (pattern: atomoxetine > placebo), and β norepinephrine receptors (for both patterns, with correlations of opposite sign). We conclude that catecholaminergic effects on the forebrain are spatially more structured than traditionally assumed and at least in part explained by the heterogeneous distribution of various catecholamine receptors. Our findings link catecholaminergic effects on large-scale brain networks to low-level characteristics of the underlying neurotransmitter systems. They also provide key constraints for the development of realistic models of neuromodulatory effects on large-scale brain network dynamics.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe catecholamines norepinephrine and dopamine are an important class of modulatory neurotransmitters. Because of the widespread and diffuse release of these neuromodulators, it has commonly been assumed that their effects on neural interactions are homogenous across the brain. Here, we present results from the human brain that challenge this view. We pharmacologically increased catecholamine levels and imaged the effects on the spontaneous covariations between brain-wide fMRI signals at ‘rest’. We identified two distinct spatial patterns of covariations: one that was amplified and another that was suppressed by catecholamines. Each pattern was associated with the heterogeneous spatial distribution of the expression of distinct catecholamine receptor genes. Our results provide novel insights into the catecholaminergic modulation of large-scale human brain dynamics.


NeuroImage ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 98 ◽  
pp. 203-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang-Eop Kim ◽  
Yu Kyeong Kim ◽  
Geehoon Chung ◽  
Jae Min Jeong ◽  
Dong Soo Lee ◽  
...  

Neurology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 88 (21) ◽  
pp. 2017-2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme D. Jackson ◽  
Mangor Pedersen ◽  
A. Simon Harvey

Objective:To present a case that demonstrates that seizures and interictal disturbances can be driven by a small area of functionally abnormal cortex.Methods:Two novel functional MRI network analysis methods were used to supplement conventional seizure and lesion localization methods: (1) regional homogeneity to quantify local connectivity, or synchrony, with a resolution of less than 1 cm3 of cortex; and (2) small-worldness to combine information about whole brain network segregation and integration.Results:After a small corticectomy in the dominant supramarginal gyrus (13 × 7 × 6 mm) limited to the area of abnormal local connectivity, and smaller than the PET and SPECT abnormalities, the patient has been seizure-free for 3 years with no language deficit. Whole brain network characteristics normalized (small-worldness) to that of healthy controls.Conclusions:This case demonstrates that small areas of cortex may be highly epileptogenic, drive intractable epilepsy, and disrupt large-scale networks likely to be involved in core cognitive functions.


2011 ◽  
Vol 271-273 ◽  
pp. 441-447
Author(s):  
Xiao Mei Chen ◽  
Dang Gang ◽  
Tian Yang

The algorithm of anomaly detection for large scale networks is a key way to promptly detect the abnormal traffic flows. In this paper, priori triggered BP neural network algorithm(PBP) is analyzed for the purpose of dealing with the problems caused by typical algorithms that are not able to adapt and learn; detect with high precision; provide high level of correctness. PBP uses K-Means and PCA to trigger self-adapting and learning ability, and also, it uses historical neuron parameter to initialize the neural network, so that it use the trained network to detect the abnormal traffic flows. According to experiments, PBP can obtain a higher level of correctness of detection than priori algorithm, and it can adapt itself according to different network environments.


2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. E4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geert-Jan Rutten ◽  
Nick F. Ramsey

New functional neuroimaging techniques are changing our understanding of the human brain, and there is now convincing evidence to move away from the classic and clinical static concepts of functional topography. In a modern neurocognitive view, functions are thought to be represented in dynamic large-scale networks. The authors review the current (limited) role of functional MR imaging in brain surgery and the possibilities of new functional MR imaging techniques for research and neurosurgical practice. A critique of current clinical gold standard techniques (electrocortical stimulation and the Wada test) is given.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pesoli Matteo ◽  
Rucco Rosaria ◽  
Liparoti Marianna ◽  
Lardone Anna ◽  
D’Aurizio Giula ◽  
...  

AbstractThe topology of brain networks changes according to environmental demands and can be described within the framework of graph theory. We hypothesized that 24-hours long sleep deprivation (SD) causes functional rearrangements of the brain topology so as to impair optimal communication, and that such rearrangements relate to the performance in specific cognitive tasks, namely the ones specifically requiring attention. Thirty-two young men underwent resting-state MEG recording and assessments of attention and switching abilities before and after SD. We found loss of integration of brain network and a worsening of attention but not of switching abilities. These results show that brain network changes due to SD affect switching abilities, worsened attention and induce large-scale rearrangements in the functional networks.


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