Cited by 417Functional Brain Connectivity StudiesComplex Network Analysis TechniquesAdvanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications

Graph theoretical analysis of functional brain networks: test-retest evaluation on short- and long-term resting-state functional MRI data

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Wang, Jin-Hui, Zuo, Xi-Nian, Gohel, Suril, Milham, Michael P., Biswal, Bharat B., He, Yong·2011·PLoS ONE

Abstract

Graph-based computational network analysis has proven a powerful tool to quantitatively characterize functional architectures of the brain. However, the test-retest (TRT) reliability of graph metrics of functional networks has not been systematically examined. Here, we investigated TRT reliability of topological metrics of functional brain networks derived from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data. Specifically, we evaluated both short-term (<1 hour apart) and long-term (>5 months apart) TRT reliability for 12 global and 6 local nodal network metrics. We found that reliability of global network metrics was overall low, threshold-sensitive and dependent on several factors of scanning time interval (TI, long-term>short-term), network membership (NM, networks excluding negative correlations>networks including negative correlations) and network type (NT, binarized networks>weighted networks). The dependence was modulated by another factor of node definition (ND) strategy. The local nodal reliability exhibited large variability across nodal metrics and a spatially heterogeneous distribution. Nodal degree was the most reliable metric and varied the least across the factors above. Hub regions in association and limbic/paralimbic cortices showed moderate TRT reliability. Importantly, nodal reliability was robust to above-mentioned four factors. Simulation analysis revealed that global network metrics were extremely sensitive (but varying degrees) to noise in functional connectivity and weighted networks generated numerically more reliable results in compared with binarized networks. For nodal network metrics, they showed high resistance to noise in functional connectivity and no NT related differences were found in the resistance. These findings provide important implications on how to choose reliable analytical schemes and network metrics of interest.

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  • Multiple studies have found evidence for limited test-retest reliability using a multitude of conventional rs-fcMRI network characteristics and analytic approaches.

    “Multiple studies have found evidence for limited test-retest reliability using a multitude of conventional rs-fcMRI network characteristics and analytic approaches (Braun et al., 2012; Wang et al., 2011; Wisner et al., 2013; Zuo et al., 2010; Zuo and Xing, 2014).”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [53]Mesulam MM 2000 Principles of behavioural and cognitive neurology. New York Oxford University Press xviii540
  2. [69]Salvador R Suckling J Schwarzbauer C Bullmore E 2005 Undirected graphs of frequency-dependent functional connectivity in whole brain networks. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 360 937 946 16087438 PMC1854928

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Authors
Wang, J.-H., Zuo, X.-N., Gohel, S., Milham, M. P., Biswal, B. B., & He, Y.
Affiliations
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
  • University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (US)
  • NYU Langone Health (US)
Venue
PLoS ONE
Published
2011-07-19
Volume
6
Issue
7
Pages
e21976
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2020617938
Cited by
416
References
74
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 40 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 19
FWCI
12.50
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Institutional Repository of Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Institutional Repository of Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
Funders
National Natural Science Foundation of China (30870667, 81030028)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Complex Network Analysis Techniques
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
Keywords
test-retest reliability, functional brain networks, resting-state functional connectivity, graph theory, hub regions, association cortex, noise sensitivity, network topology
MeSH terms
Adult, Brain, Computer Simulation, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Models, Neurological, Nerve Net, Rest, Statistics as Topic, Time Factors, Reproducibility of Results

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