Test–Retest Reliability of Graph Metrics in High‐resolution Functional Connectomics: A Resting‐State Functional MRI Study

摘要

Summary Background The combination of resting‐state functional MRI (R‐fMRI) technique and graph theoretical approaches has emerged as a promising tool for characterizing the topological organization of brain networks, that is, functional connectomics. In particular, the construction and analysis of high‐resolution brain connectomics at a voxel scale are important because they do not require prior regional parcellations and provide finer spatial information about brain connectivity. However, the test–retest reliability of voxel‐based functional connectomics remains largely unclear. Aims This study tended to investigate both short‐term (～20 min apart) and long‐term (6 weeks apart) test–retest (TRT) reliability of graph metrics of voxel‐based brain networks. Methods Based on graph theoretical approaches, we analyzed R‐fMRI data from 53 young healthy adults who completed two scanning sessions (session 1 included two scans 20 min apart; session 2 included one scan that was performed after an interval of ～6 weeks). Results The high‐resolution networks exhibited prominent small‐world and modular properties and included functional hubs mainly located at the default‐mode, salience, and executive control systems. Further analysis revealed that test‐retest reliabilities of network metrics were sensitive to the scanning orders and intervals, with fair to excellent long‐term reliability between Scan 1 and Scan 3 and lower reliability involving Scan 2. In the long‐term case (Scan 1 and Scan 3), most network metrics were generally test–retest reliable, with the highest reliability in global metrics in the clustering coefficient and in the nodal metrics in nodal degree and efficiency. Conclusion We showed high test–retest reliability for graph properties in the high‐resolution functional connectomics, which provides important guidance for choosing reliable network metrics and analysis strategies in future studies.