Time-varying Graphs: A Method to Identify Abnormal Integration and Disconnection in Functional Brain Connectivity with Application to Schizophrenia

Haleh Falakshahi, Hooman Rokham, Zening Fu, Daniel H. Mathalon, Judith M. Ford, James Voyvodic, Bryon A. Mueller, Aysenil Belger, Sarah McEwen, Steven G. Potkin, Adrian Preda, Armin Iraji, Jessica A. Turner, Sergey Plis, Vince D. Calhoun

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Objective: A graph theoretical approach provides a powerful framework for discovering potential biomarkers of psychotic disorders. Comparing the brain graphs of the control and patient groups can help us to discover changes in mental disorders in a more convenient way. In this paper, we propose a novel tool to identify missing links associated with blocked paths (segregation) and new links associated with additional paths (abnormal integration) in estimated patient group's time-varying graphs. We highlight the approach in an example application to the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data of schizophrenia (SZ) patients. Methods: We first estimated whole-brain functional connectivity dynamics using a combination of spatial independent component analysis (ICA), sliding time window, and k-means clustering of windowed correlation matrices on resting-state fMRI data. The clusters are regarded as functional connectivity states, and each of them includes time intervals exhibiting similar connectivity patterns. We then estimated a Gaussian graphical model (GGM) for each state for both groups. To evaluate this approach, we compared different paths between brain components (nodes) of SZ and control groups' graphs within each state by using the concept of connected components in graph theory. Results: We identified missing edges associated with disconnectivity (disconnectors) and showed there are additional edges in the SZ group graph that contribute to creating new paths in brain graphs. Conclusion: The proposed approach provides a tool for extracting time-varying graphs and identifying disconnectors associated with disconnectivity (absence of paths) and also connectors associated with abnormal integration (additional paths) in patient group graphs. Significance: We detected several missing links in SZ, both within and between functional domains, in particular within the subcortical (3 links) and somatomotor (4 links) domains. Interestingly, our proposed method identified new links within the somatomotor domain which may be related to a compensatory response in patients that warrants future study.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings - IEEE 20th International Conference on Bioinformatics and Bioengineering, BIBE 2020
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages417-424
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781728195742
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2020
Event20th IEEE International Conference on Bioinformatics and Bioengineering, BIBE 2020 - Virtual, Cincinnati, United States
Duration: Oct 26 2020Oct 28 2020

Publication series

NameProceedings - IEEE 20th International Conference on Bioinformatics and Bioengineering, BIBE 2020

Conference

Conference20th IEEE International Conference on Bioinformatics and Bioengineering, BIBE 2020
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityVirtual, Cincinnati
Period10/26/2010/28/20

Keywords

  • Brain graph
  • Gaussian graphical model
  • joint estimation
  • partial correlation
  • resting state fMRI
  • schizophrenia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Modeling and Simulation
  • Health Informatics

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