Study of brain network alternations in sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging

Motivation: To investigate the topological properties of brain functional connectomes in patients with sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (SHE). Goal(s): Little is known about the topological organization changes of brain functional networks in SHE patients. Approach: 57 SHE patients and 54 healthy controls underwent resting-state functional MRI examination. Topological properties of brain networks were identified using graph-based theoretical analysis. Results: Compared to controls, SHE patients showed longer characteristic path length (Lp) and lower global efficiency (Eglob), decreased nodal centralities in several regions, and connectivity aberrations. Lp and normalized Lp had positive correlations while Eglob and nodal centralities of thalamus had negative correlations with epilepsy duration. Impact: The aberrant topological properties in brain functional networks of SHE may provide insights into the pathophysiology of epileptogenesis. The identification and characterization of network changes may contribute to clinical treatment through the disruption or inhibition of these epileptogenic networks.