An Investigation of the Differences and Similarities between Generated Small-World Networks for Right- and Left-Hand Motor Imageries.
In this study, small-world network analysis was performed to identify the similarities and differences between functional brain networks for right- and left-hand motor imageries (MIs). First, Pearson correlation coefficients among the nodes within the functional brain networks from healthy subjects were calculated. Then, small-world network indicators, including the clustering coefficient, the average path length, the global efficiency, the local efficiency, the average node degree, and the small-world index, were generated for the functional brain networks during both right- and left-hand MIs. We identified large differences in the small-world network indicators between the functional networks during MI and in the random networks. More importantly, the functional brain networks underlying the right- and left-hand MIs exhibited similar small-world properties in terms of the clustering coefficient, the average path length, the global efficiency, and the local efficiency. By contrast, the right- and left-hand MI brain networks showed differences in small-world characteristics, including indicators such as the average node degree and the small-world index. Interestingly, our findings also suggested that the differences in the activity intensity and range, the average node degree, and the small-world index of brain networks between the right- and left-hand MIs were associated with the asymmetry of brain functions.
Department of Medical Information Engineering, School of Electrical Engineering and Information, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
Jiang
J
Zhang
School of Information Science and Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China.
Yuyao
Y
Li
School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China.
Huafu
H
Chen
Institute of Automation and Electronic Information, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong 643000, China.
Jurong
J
Ding
Bioimaging Core, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR China.
Zhen
Z
Yuan
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult