Multisensory integration processing during olfactory-visual stimulation-An fMRI graph theoretical network analysis.
Isabelle RippAnna-Nora Zur NiedenSonja BlankenagelNicolai FranzmeierJohan N LundströmJessica FreiherrPublished in: Human brain mapping (2018)
In this study, we aimed to understand how whole-brain neural networks compute sensory information integration based on the olfactory and visual system. Task-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data was obtained during unimodal and bimodal sensory stimulation. Based on the identification of multisensory integration processing (MIP) specific hub-like network nodes analyzed with network-based statistics using region-of-interest based connectivity matrices, we conclude the following brain areas to be important for processing the presented bimodal sensory information: right precuneus connected contralaterally to the supramarginal gyrus for memory-related imagery and phonology retrieval, and the left middle occipital gyrus connected ipsilaterally to the inferior frontal gyrus via the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus including functional aspects of working memory. Applied graph theory for quantification of the resulting complex network topologies indicates a significantly increased global efficiency and clustering coefficient in networks including aspects of MIP reflecting a simultaneous better integration and segregation. Graph theoretical analysis of positive and negative network correlations allowing for inferences about excitatory and inhibitory network architectures revealed-not significant, but very consistent-that MIP-specific neural networks are dominated by inhibitory relationships between brain regions involved in stimulus processing.
Keyphrases
- neural network
- resting state
- functional connectivity
- network analysis
- working memory
- magnetic resonance imaging
- white matter
- computed tomography
- transcranial direct current stimulation
- squamous cell carcinoma
- health information
- cerebral ischemia
- artificial intelligence
- contrast enhanced
- blood brain barrier
- diffusion weighted imaging
- subarachnoid hemorrhage