Towards Multi-parametric Hub Scoring of Functional Cortical Brain Networks: An Electroencephalographic (EEG) Study Across Lifespan

摘要

The attractiveness and robustness of graph theory has stimulated an unprecedented increase in studies aiming to understand the functional organization and dynamics of the brain. The investigation of brain connectomics produces a tremendous amount of data which may be examined at both a macroscopic and microscopic level. However, the interpretation of findings is still challenging. Novel methodological approaches should enhance the arsenal of the tools employed towards the understanding of the interaction of the distinct brain components. So, in this paper we propose a multi-parametric approach to identify cortical components that co-ordinate the activity of specific sub-networks and converge the information integration to a global network level. It also provides a quantification of the hubs strength, which may be useful to investigate how hubs develop and change across the life-span. Thus, it is hypothesized the proposed methodology could serve as a robust outcome measure for identifying the benefits of traditional dance intervention in terms of functional re-organization and neuroplasticity.