Review Article

Complex Brain Network Analysis and Its Applications to Brain Disorders: A Survey

Table 8

Overview of structural brain network studies in MS.

StudyModality SubjectsNode definition Edge definition Network type Main findings

He et al., 2009 [128]sMRI102 MS
42 HC
54 regionsPearson correlation based on cortical thicknessesBinary(1) Decreased integrated absolute local and global efficiency with increasing TWMLL in MS.
(2) Decreased integrated relative local efficiency with increasing TWMLL in MS.

Tewarie et al., 2014 [129]sMRI102 MS
42 HC
78 regions in AAL atlasPearson correlation based on cortical thicknessesWeighted(1) Higher normalized clustering coefficient in MS.
(2) Higher normalized shortest path length in MS.

Shu et al., 2011 [130]DTI39 MS
39 HC
90 regions in AAL atlasFNWeighted(1) Decreased global efficiency in MS.
(2) Decreased local efficiency in the sensorimotor, visual, default-mode, and language areas in MS.

Nigro et al., 2015 [131]DTI20
MD-MS
22
ND-MS
16 HC
90 regions in AAL atlasFNWeighted(1) Increased path length in MS patients compared with HCs.
(2) Increased local path length in the right hippocampus and right amygdala in MD-MS compared with ND-MS and HC.

Shu et al., 2016 [132]DTI41 CIS
32 MS
35 HC
90 regions in AAL atlasFNWeighted(1) Decreased network strength, global and local efficiency, and clustering coefficient and increased shortest path length in both CIS and MS.
(2) Increased gamma and sigma in MS compared with HC.
(3) Reduced network strength and global and local efficiency and increased shortest path length, gamma, and sigma in MS compared with CIS.

Llufriu et al., 2017 [133]DTI72 MS
38 HC
84 regions in FreeSurferFAWeighted(1) Decreased transitivity and global efficiency and increased path length in MS.
(2) Increased betweenness centrality in right pallidum and left insula in MS.
(3) Decreased nodal strength in 26 of the 84 brain regions in MS.