Multilayer network analysis reveals instability of brain dynamics in untreated first-episode schizophrenia

Motivation: Although aberrant static functional connectome in schizophrenia has been reported, little is known about how the neural dynamics change in first-episode schizophrenia and are modulated by antipsychotic treatment. Goal(s): We aim to characterize dynamic topological reconfiguration of brain connectome in schizophrenia. Approach: Multilayer network analysis was applied to calculate the network switching rates between brain states. We compared switching rates of patients and controls at baseline, and tested for changes after one-year of treatment. Results: Significantly increased network switching rates were found in patients at baseline, mainly in the sensorimotor and dorsal attention networks. Switching rates were reduced after treatment. Impact: The findings of excessive neural flexibility in patients extend our understanding for the disease-related brain dynamics aberrance in schizophrenia, and the normalization of network switching rates further illustrate the biological mechanism underlying antipsychotic treatment from a perspective of neural dynamics.