Brain functional network modeling and analysis based on fMRI: a systematic review

Zhongyang Wang, Junchang Xin, Zhiqiong Wang, Yudong Yao, Yue Zhao, Wei Qian

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

In recent years, the number of patients with neurodegenerative diseases (i.e., Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, mild cognitive impairment) and mental disorders (i.e., depression, anxiety and schizophrenia) have increased dramatically. Researchers have found that complex network analysis can reveal the topology of brain functional networks, such as small-world, scale-free, etc. In the study of brain diseases, it has been found that these topologies have undergoed abnormal changes in different degrees. Therefore, the research of brain functional networks can not only provide a new perspective for understanding the pathological mechanism of neurological and psychiatric diseases, but also provide assistance for the early diagnosis. Focusing on the study of human brain functional networks, this paper reviews the research results in recent years. First, this paper introduces the background of the study of brain functional networks under complex network theory and the important role of topological properties in the study of brain diseases. Second, the paper describes how to construct a brain functional network using neural image data. Third, the common methods of functional network analysis, including network structure analysis and disease classification, are introduced. Fourth, the role of brain functional networks in pathological study, analysis and diagnosis of brain functional diseases is studied. Finally, the paper summarizes the existing studies of brain functional networks and points out the problems and future research directions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)389-403
Number of pages15
JournalCognitive Neurodynamics
Volume15
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2021

Keywords

  • Brain functional networks
  • Complex network
  • Neurological and psychiatric diseases
  • Topological properties

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