Graph theoretical analysis of the effect of brain tumors on functional MRI networks

项目概要/摘要： 这项资助的广泛的长期目标是推进一个图形理论框架，以确定核心节点 在一个大脑网络的网络开发一个软件工具，将允许终端用户从广泛的 神经科学界，以确定和分析最有影响力的节点在大脑中的各种疾病 states.具体目标#1：开发网络的网络（NoN）图形理论工具，以识别“核心节点” 用于网络脆弱性，它可以用作分析大脑疾病的工具。该项目将 将理论模型从单个网络推进到多个网络，并将在此基础上创建一个工具 其他神经科学研究人员和临床医生也可以使用这一理论。具体目标#2：使用图表 理论上的NoN分析，以了解脑肿瘤患者如何能够保留某些功能， 由于可塑性和功能网络的重组。该基金将解决中央 神经科学中的问题：可塑性如何使大脑在受到侮辱后恢复功能：具体来说， 神经网络的扰动（脑中肿瘤的生长）影响脑NoN的稳定性， 网络避免灾难性崩溃的能力（大脑如何调整并继续运作） 尽管存在脑肿瘤）。假设1：肿瘤累及核心NoN淋巴结 坏死或Gd增强导致功能缺陷，而FLAIR显示核心淋巴结受累 异常导致皮质重组和功能保留。假设2：患者 语言/运动功能的保留将具有与患者显著不同的连接图 神经功能和正常控制的丧失，包括核心节点的发展， 理论上代表了皮层重组假设3：NoN分析方法将能够更好地 与其他分析方法相比，区分神经功能丧失。具体目标#3（资源共享 计划）：由于这项资助而开发的软件和工具将被神经科学优化， 临床医生和研究人员在更大的科学界的非营利用户。健康相关性和长期 长期目标：本研究的结果将导致脑肿瘤手术计划的改进。一旦 完成后，我们相信这个项目开发的工具将能够被更大的神经科学所使用。 社区研究，诊断和开发其他大脑疾病的治疗策略，认为是由于 脑连接中断（例如阿尔茨海默病、ADHD、中风或创伤性脑损伤）。的 发展和测试（在临床情况下）的理论组织和反应的扰动 大脑网络的研究应该导致关于网络组织适用的一般原则的推论 神经科学以外的领域。

Project Summary/Abstract: The broad, long-term objective of this grant is to advance a graph theoretical framework to identify core-nodes in a Brain Network of Networks to develop a software tool that will allow end-users from the broad neuroscience community to identify and analyze the most influential nodes in the brain in various disease states. Specific Aim #1: Develop Network of Networks (NoN) graph theoretical tools to identify “core nodes” for network vulnerability, which can be used as a tool to analyze disorders of the brain. The project will advance the theoretical models from a single network to multiple networks and will create a tool based on this theory to be used by other neuroscience researchers and clinicians. Specific Aim #2: Use the graph theoretical NoN analysis to understanding how patients with brain tumors are able to retain function in certain instances due to plasticity and the reorganization of functional networks. This grant will address a central problem in neuroscience: how plasticity allows the brain to recover function after an insult: specifically, how perturbations of the neural network (the growth of a tumor in the brain) affects the stability of the brain NoN and the ability of the network to avoid catastrophic collapse (how the brain adjusts and continues to function notwithstanding the presence of a brain tumor). Hypothesis 1: Involvement of core NoN nodes by tumor necrosis or Gd-enhancement leads to functional deficits, whereas involvement of core nodes by FLAIR abnormality leads to cortical reorganization and preservation of function. Hypothesis 2: Patients with preservation of language/motor function will have connectivity maps that are significantly different from patients with loss of neurological function and normal controls, including the development of core nodes, which is theorized to represent cortical reorganization. Hypothesis 3: The NoN method of analysis will be better able to discriminate loss of neurological function than other methods of analysis. Specific Aim #3 (Resource sharing plan): The software and tools developed as a result of this grant will be optimized for usability by neuroscience clinicians and researchers for non-profit users in the larger scientific community. Health relatedness and long term goals: The results of the present study should lead to improved planning of brain tumor surgery. Once completed, we trust that the tools developed by this project will be able to be used by the larger neuroscience community to study, diagnose and develop treatment strategies for other brain disorders thought to be due to disruptions of brain connectivity (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, ADHD, stokes or traumatic brain injury). The development and testing (in a clinical situation) of the theories of organization and responses to perturbations of brain networks should lead to the inference of general principles regarding network organization applicable to areas outside of the neurosciences.