title: Comparison of connectivity analyses for resting state EEG data.
abstract: In the present work, a nonlinear measure (transfer entropy, TE) was used in a multivariate approach for the analysis of effective connectivity in high density resting state EEG data in eyes open and eyes closed. Advantages of the multivariate approach in comparison to the bivariate one were tested. Moreover, the multivariate TE was compared to an effective linear measure, i.e. directed transfer function (DTF). Finally, the existence of a relationship between the information transfer and the level of brain synchronization as measured by phase synchronization value (PLV) was investigated.
  
  
  
  The comparison between the connectivity measures, i.e. bivariate versus multivariate TE, TE versus DTF, TE versus PLV, was performed by means of statistical analysis of indexes based on graph theory.
  
  
  
  The multivariate approach is less sensitive to false indirect connections with respect to the bivariate estimates. The multivariate TE differentiated better between eyes closed and eyes open conditions compared to DTF. Moreover, the multivariate TE evidenced non-linear phenomena in information transfer, which are not evidenced by the use of DTF. We also showed that the target of information flow, in particular the frontal region, is an area of greater brain synchronization.
  
  
  
  Comparison of different connectivity analysis methods pointed to the advantages of nonlinear methods, and indicated a relationship existing between the flow of information and the level of synchronization of the brain.
authors.affiliation: Nalecz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Olejarczyk
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marzetti
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pizzella
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zappasodi
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D063132:Connectome / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult