Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
The combination of resting-state functional MRI (R-fMRI) technique and graph theoretical approaches has emerged as a promising tool for characterizing the topological organization of brain networks, that is, functional connectomics. In particular, the construction and analysis of high-resolution brain connectomics at a voxel scale are important because they do not require prior regional parcellations and provide finer spatial information about brain connectivity. However, the test-retest reliability of voxel-based functional connectomics remains largely unclear.Aims
This study tended to investigate both short-term (?20 min apart) and long-term (6 weeks apart) test-retest (TRT) reliability of graph metrics of voxel-based brain networks.Methods
Based on graph theoretical approaches, we analyzed R-fMRI data from 53 young healthy adults who completed two scanning sessions (session 1 included two scans 20 min apart; session 2 included one scan that was performed after an interval of ?6 weeks).Results
The high-resolution networks exhibited prominent small-world and modular properties and included functional hubs mainly located at the default-mode, salience, and executive control systems. Further analysis revealed that test-retest reliabilities of network metrics were sensitive to the scanning orders and intervals, with fair to excellent long-term reliability between Scan 1 and Scan 3 and lower reliability involving Scan 2. In the long-term case (Scan 1 and Scan 3), most network metrics were generally test-retest reliable, with the highest reliability in global metrics in the clustering coefficient and in the nodal metrics in nodal degree and efficiency.Conclusion
We showed high test-retest reliability for graph properties in the high-resolution functional connectomics, which provides important guidance for choosing reliable network metrics and analysis strategies in future studies.
SUBMITTER: Du HX
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6493187 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Du Hai-Xiao HX Liao Xu-Hong XH Lin Qi-Xiang QX Li Gu-Shu GS Chi Yu-Ze YZ Liu Xiang X Yang Hua-Zhong HZ Wang Yu Y Xia Ming-Rui MR
CNS neuroscience & therapeutics 20150727 10
<h4>Background</h4>The combination of resting-state functional MRI (R-fMRI) technique and graph theoretical approaches has emerged as a promising tool for characterizing the topological organization of brain networks, that is, functional connectomics. In particular, the construction and analysis of high-resolution brain connectomics at a voxel scale are important because they do not require prior regional parcellations and provide finer spatial information about brain connectivity. However, the ...[more]