Effects of network resolution on topological properties of human neocortex

• Published in: NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.) Fla.), 2012-02, Vol.59 (4), p.3522-3532
• Main Authors: Romero-Garcia, Rafael, Atienza, Mercedes, Clemmensen, Line H., Cantero, Jose L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithms; Brain Mapping; Cortical networks; Cortical scale; Cortical thickness; Dementia; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neocortex - anatomy & histology; Neocortex - physiology; Nerve Net; Network topologies; Small-world properties; Sparsity; Structural connectivity
• ISSN: 1053-8119; 1095-9572
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.10.086

Graph theoretical analyses applied to neuroimaging datasets have provided valuable insights into the large-scale anatomical organization of the human neocortex. Most of these studies were performed with different cortical scales leading to cortical networks with different levels of small-world organization. The present study investigates how resolution of thickness-based cortical scales impacts on topological properties of human anatomical cortical networks. To this end, we designed a novel approach aimed at determining the best trade-off between small-world attributes of anatomical cortical networks and the number of cortical regions included in the scale. Results revealed that schemes comprising 540–599 regions (surface areas spanning between 250 and 275mm2) at sparsities below 10% showed a superior balance between small-world organization and the size of the cortical scale employed. Furthermore, we found that the cortical scale representing the best trade-off (599 regions) was more resilient to targeted attacks than atlas-based schemes (Desikan–Killiany atlas, 66 regions) and, most importantly, it did not differ that much from the finest cortical scale tested in the present study (1494 regions). In summary, our study confirms that topological organization of anatomical cortical networks varies with both sparsity and resolution of cortical scale, and it further provides a novel methodological framework aimed at identifying cortical schemes that maximize small-worldness with the lowest scale resolution possible. ► Effects of cortical scale on anatomical network topology are poorly understood. ► Our approach establishes an effective trade-off between small-world attributes and cortical resolution. ► Schemes comprising 540–600 cortical regions show the best trade-off between small-world properties and cortical resolution. ► Selected cortical scales are more resilient to attacks than atlas-based schemes.