Task-related Edge Density (TED)-a new method for revealing dynamic network formation in fMRI data of the human brain
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The formation of transient networks in response to external stimuli or as a reflection of internal cognitive processes is a hallmark of human brain function. However, its identification in fMRI data of the human brain is notoriously difficult. Here we propose a new method of fMRI data analysis that tackles this problem by considering large-scale, task-related synchronisation networks. Networks consist of nodes and edges connecting them, where nodes correspond to voxels in fMRI data, and the weight of an edge is determined via task-related changes in dynamic synchronisation between their respective times series. Based on these definitions, we developed a new data analysis algorithm that identifies edges that show differing levels of synchrony between two distinct task conditions and that occur in dense packs with similar characteristics. Hence, we call this approach “Task-related Edge Density” (TED). TED proved to be a very strong marker for dynamic network formation that easily lends itself to statistical analysis using large scale statistical inference. A major advantage of TED compared to other methods is that it does not depend on any specific hemodynamic response model, and it also does not require a presegmentation of the data for dimensionality reduction as it can handle large networks consisting of tens of thousands of voxels. We applied TED to fMRI data of a fingertapping and an emotion processing task provided by the Human Connectome Project. TED revealed network-based involvement of a large number of brain areas that evaded detection using traditional GLM-based analysis. We show that our proposed method provides an entirely new window into the immense complexity of human brain function.
Date Issued
2016-06-24
Date Acceptance
2016-06-10
Citation
PLoS One, 2016, 11 (6), pp.1-22
ISSN
1932-6203
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Start Page
1
End Page
22
Journal / Book Title
PLoS One
Volume
11
Issue
6
Copyright Statement
© 2016 Lohmann et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000378393600038&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Science & Technology - Other Topics
HUMAN CONNECTOME PROJECT
FALSE DISCOVERY RATE
FUNCTIONAL CONNECTIVITY
PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS
WHOLE-BRAIN
SMALL-WORLD
ACTIVATION
CORTEX
PARCELLATION
ORGANIZATION
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN e0158185
Date Publish Online
2016-06-24