Estimating functional connectivity symmetry between oxy- and deoxy-haemoglobin: implications for fNIRS connectivity analysis
File(s)algorithms-11-00070 (1).pdf (14.87 MB)
Published version
OA Location
Author(s)
Montero-Hernandez, Samuel
Orihuela-Espina, Felipe
Enrique Sucar, Luis
Pinti, Paola
Hamilton, Antonia
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Functional Near InfraRed Spectroscopy (fNIRS) connectivity analysis is often performed using the measured oxy-haemoglobin (HbO2) signal, while the deoxy-haemoglobin (HHb) is largely ignored. The in-common information of the connectivity networks of both HbO2 and HHb is not regularly reported, or worse, assumed to be similar. Here we describe a methodology that allows the estimation of the symmetry between the functional connectivity (FC) networks of HbO2 and HHb and propose a differential symmetry index (DSI) indicative of the in-common physiological information. Our hypothesis is that the symmetry between FC networks associated with HbO2 and HHb is above what should be expected from random networks. FC analysis was done in fNIRS data collected from six freely-moving healthy volunteers over 16 locations on the prefrontal cortex during a real-world task in an out-of-the-lab environment. In addition, systemic data including breathing rate (BR) and heart rate (HR) were also synchronously collected and used within the FC analysis. FC networks for HbO2 and HHb were established independently using a Bayesian networks analysis. The DSI between both haemoglobin (Hb) networks with and without systemic influence was calculated. The relationship between the symmetry of HbO2 and HHb networks, including the segregational and integrational characteristics of the networks (modularity and global efficiency respectively) were further described. Consideration of systemic information increases the path lengths of the connectivity networks by 3%. Sparse networks exhibited higher asymmetry than dense networks. Importantly, our experimental connectivity networks symmetry between HbO2 and HHb departs from random (t-test: t(509) = 26.39, p < 0.0001). The DSI distribution suggests a threshold of 0.2 to decide whether both HbO2 and HHb FC networks ought to be studied. For sparse FC networks, analysis of both haemoglobin species is strongly recommended. Our DSI can provide a quantifiable guideline for deciding whether to proceed with single or both Hb networks in FC analysis.
Date Issued
2018-05-11
Date Acceptance
2018-05-09
Citation
Algorithms, 2018, 11 (5)
ISSN
1999-4893
Publisher
MDPI AG
Journal / Book Title
Algorithms
Volume
11
Issue
5
Copyright Statement
© 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
License URL
Sponsor
Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) de México
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000435189200015&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
237251
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Mathematics
fNIRS
functional connectivity
symmetry
prefrontal cortex
NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY
RESTING-STATE
CEREBRAL HEMODYNAMICS
PROSPECTIVE MEMORY
HUMAN BRAIN
WHOLE HEAD
NETWORKS
CORTEX
FMRI
FLUCTUATIONS
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 70
Date Publish Online
2018-05-11