(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2020-05)
Bassil, Yasmine
The brain’s overall organization of its networks is often studied through its functional connectivity, defined as the spatiotemporal dependency of neuronal activity in anatomically separated regions. Altered functional connectivity in cortical networks, such as the default mode and task positive networks, is often associated with neurological disorders and can be studied and measured through resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). This study compares dynamic changes in functional connectivity between individuals with idiopathic hypersomnia, narcolepsy, and typically functioning controls. This comparison is conducted through the investigation of the quasi-periodic pattern (QPP), a low-frequency spatiotemporal pattern in the brain linked to infra-slow activity. This study showed that this spatiotemporal pattern of focus, the QPP, differed in strength, frequency, and spatial distribution between the three subject groups. These findings represent preliminary differences that can be expanded upon through further analyses, including additional functional connectivity analyses, QPP regression, and statistical testing. It can be concluded that quasi-periodic patterns provide insight into the mechanisms behind spatiotemporal pattern differences seen in individuals with sleep disorders. Further analysis of these patterns could help expand current knowledge of connectivity differences in individuals with neurological disorders, as well as allow for development of effective diagnoses.