Functional brain networks constructed in subjects’ native spaces

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Perustieteiden korkeakoulu | Master's thesis
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Date

2018-08-20

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Major/Subject

Computer Science

Mcode

SCI3042

Degree programme

Master’s Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences

Language

en

Pages

65

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Abstract

Due to the structure of the human brain and its functioning, it can be modelized as a network, i.e. a collection of nodes connected by links. One of the approaches consists in constructing functional brain networks, where nodes are identified by regions of interest (ROIs) composed of neurons with similar functional activation. The main issue of this kind of approaches is how to define nodes and links. In a typical functional brain network construction pipeline, one critical step is the registration of brain areas into templates which makes possible statistical analysis and comparison across different subjects and studies. Different registration methods can lead to different results. Here, we compare standard space registration method with a new method, called inverse-registration, starting from raw data provided by functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). In standard registration, data is projected into a standard common space, which is the same across different subjects and studies. In inverse registration approach, a template from Standard space is (inverse) registered to structural space and the obtained images are finally registered to the functional subject space. We found out that inverse registration leads to nodes with increased functional homogeneity, while basic network properties are not significantly affected. These results suggest that inverse registration is a better registration method, although it is very recent and further investigation is needed before generalizing this statement.

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Supervisor

Saramäki, Jari

Thesis advisor

Korhonen, Onerva

Keywords

brain networks, computational neuroscience, inverse registration, ROIs, functional homogeneity

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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-201809034913

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[dipl] Perustieteiden korkeakoulu / SCI