Change of Brain Functional Connectivity in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury: Graph Theory Based Approach

Ann Rehabil Med, 2015 · DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5535/arm.2015.39.3.374 · Published: June 1, 2015

Spinal Cord Injury Neuroimaging Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how the brain reorganizes itself after a spinal cord injury (SCI) using a method called graph theory. Graph theory helps to map and understand the connections within the brain. The researchers used resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) to measure brain activity in SCI patients and compared it to healthy individuals. Rs-fMRI measures the brain's spontaneous activity when a person is not performing a specific task. By analyzing the brain's network using graph theory, the study aimed to see if there were differences in how the brains of SCI patients and healthy controls process information.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

20 patients with incomplete cervical SCI and 20 healthy subjects

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The normalized characteristic path length to random network was higher in SCI patients than in controls and reached statistical significance at 12%–13% of density.
2
Clustering coefficient, global efficiency and small-worldness did not show any difference between controls and SCIs in all density ranges.
3
The study suggests that despite the spinal cord injury, the brain's overall ability to process information remains relatively intact.

Research Summary

This study used graph theoretical approaches to assess the efficiency of information processing in the whole brain network of patients with cervical incomplete SCI using rs-fMRI. The study found that the characteristic path length was longer in SCI patients compared to controls at a specific density range, suggesting a potential decrease in parallel information processing. The study concludes that graph theory can be helpful in revealing information processing after SCI, and that patients with SCI can potentially build on preserved brain control.

Practical Implications

Rehabilitation Strategies

The findings suggest that rehabilitation strategies can leverage the preserved competent brain control in SCI patients.

Brain-Computer Interface

This study has clinical significance to identify local and global efficiency in brain after SCI, which could further improve brain-computer interface technologies.

Further Research

Further analysis, such as topological rearrangement and hub region identification, are needed for better understanding of the neuroplasticity in patients with SCI in the view of network science.

Study Limitations

1
The study included chronic incomplete cervical SCI patients, limiting the generalizability to other types of SCI.
2
The study excluded the cerebellum regions, which are important for information processing in motor recovery.
3
The region based resting-state brain networks using an AAL template might be biased by predefined anatomical structures.

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Back to Spinal Cord Injury