Connectivity brain networks based on wavelet correlation analysis in Parkinson fMRI data

Recent studies have shown that aging, psychiatric and neurologic diseases, and dopaminergic blockade all result in altered brain network efficiency. We investigated the efficiency of human brain functional networks as measured by fMRI in individuals with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (N = 14) compared to healthy age-matched controls (N = 15). Functional connectivity between 116 cortical and subcortical regions was estimated by wavelet correlation analysis in the frequency interval of 0.06–0.12 Hz. Efficiency of the associated network was analyzed, comparing PD to healthy controls. We found that individuals with Parkinson’s disease had a marked decrease in nodal and global efficiency compared to healthy age-matched controls. Our results suggest that algorithmic approach and graph metrics might be used to identify and track neurodegenerative diseases, however more studies will be needed to evaluate utility of this type of analysis for different disease states.

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► Using network modeling techniques to describe temporal patterns of brain activity.
► Small world network modeling in Parkinson disease.
► Parkinson disease results in measurable reduction of brain network efficiency.
► Individuals with PD are less effective at information processing across the network.