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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Perceber a rede estrutural formada pelos neurónios no cérebro a nível da macro escala é um desafio atual na área das neurociências. Neste estudo analisou-se a conectividade estrutural do cérebro em 22 indivíduos saudáveis e em dois doentes com epilepsia pós-traumática. Avaliaram-se as diferenças entre estes dois grupos. Também se pesquisaram diferenças a nível do género e idade no grupo de indivíduos saudáveis e os que têm valores médios mais elevados nas métricas de caracterização da rede. Para tal, desenvolveu-se um protocolo de análise recorrendo a diversos softwares especializados e usaram-se métricas da Teoria dos Grafos para a caracterização da conectividade estrutural entre 118 regiões encefálicas distintas. Dentro do grupo dos indivíduos saudáveis concluiu-se que os homens, no geral, são os que têm média mais alta para as métricas de caracterização da rede estrutural. Contudo, não se observaram diferenças significativas em relação ao género nas métricas de caracterização global do cérebro. Relativamente à idade, esta correlaciona-se negativamente, no geral, com as métricas de caracterização da rede estrutural. As regiões onde se observaram as diferenças mais importantes entre indivíduos saudáveis e doentes são: o sulco rolândico, o hipocampo, o pré-cuneus, o tálamo e o cerebelo bilateralmente. Estas diferenças são consistentes com as imagens radiológicas dos doentes e com a literatura estudada sobre a epilepsia pós-traumática. Preveem-se desenvolvimentos para o estudo da conectividade estrutural do cérebro humano, uma vez que a sua potencialidade pode ser combinada com outros métodos de modo a caracterizar as alterações dos circuitos cerebrais.
ABSTRACT: Understanding the large-scale structural network formed by neurons is a major challenge in neuroscience. In this study we analyzed the structural connectivity of the human brain in 22 healthy subjects and in two patients with post-traumatic epilepsy. We evaluated the differences between these two groups. We also investigated differences in connectivity regarding gender and age in healthy individuals. For this purpose, we developed an analysis protocol using specialized software applications and we used graph theory metrics to characterize the structural connectivity between 118 different brain regions. Within the group of healthy subjects we found that men in general are those with higher average values of graph theory metrics. However, there were no significant differences in gender regarding global characterization of the brain. In addition, age was, in general, negatively correlated to the connectivity metrics. The brain regions where the most important differences were observed between healthy individuals and patients were: the Rolandic sulcus, the hippocampus, the pre-cuneus, the thalamus and the cerebellum bilaterally. These differences were consistent with the radiologic images of patients and the studied literature on post-traumatic epilepsy. Developments are expected for the study of the structural connectivity of the human brain, since its potential can be combined with other methods to characterize the disorders of brain circuits.
ABSTRACT: Understanding the large-scale structural network formed by neurons is a major challenge in neuroscience. In this study we analyzed the structural connectivity of the human brain in 22 healthy subjects and in two patients with post-traumatic epilepsy. We evaluated the differences between these two groups. We also investigated differences in connectivity regarding gender and age in healthy individuals. For this purpose, we developed an analysis protocol using specialized software applications and we used graph theory metrics to characterize the structural connectivity between 118 different brain regions. Within the group of healthy subjects we found that men in general are those with higher average values of graph theory metrics. However, there were no significant differences in gender regarding global characterization of the brain. In addition, age was, in general, negatively correlated to the connectivity metrics. The brain regions where the most important differences were observed between healthy individuals and patients were: the Rolandic sulcus, the hippocampus, the pre-cuneus, the thalamus and the cerebellum bilaterally. These differences were consistent with the radiologic images of patients and the studied literature on post-traumatic epilepsy. Developments are expected for the study of the structural connectivity of the human brain, since its potential can be combined with other methods to characterize the disorders of brain circuits.
Description
Keywords
Ressonância magnética Rede estrutural Conectividade estrutural Imagem por tensor de difusão Matriz de conectividade Epilepsia pós-traumática Magnetic resonance imaging Structural network Structural connectivity Diffusion tensor imaging Connectivity matrices Post-traumatic epilepsy
Citation
Ferra C, Ferreira HA, Gonçalves-Pereira P, Manaças R, Andrade A. Conectividade estrutural do cérebro: diferenças entre um cérebro normal e um cérebro com patologia. Saúde & Tecnologia. 2014;(T2):e29-38.