Altered network properties of the fronto-parietal network and the thalamus in impaired consciousness.

ABSTRACT: Recovery of consciousness has been associated with connectivity in the frontal cortex and parietal regions modulated by the thalamus. To examine this model and to relate alterations to deficits in cognitive functioning and conscious processing, we investigated topological network properties in patients with chronic disorders of consciousness recovered from coma. Resting state fMRI data of 34 patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome and 25 in minimally conscious state were compared to 28 healthy controls. We investigated global and local network characteristics. Additionally, behavioral measures were correlated with the local metrics of 28 regions within the fronto-parietal network and the thalamus. In chronic disorders of consciousness, modularity at the global level was reduced sug

SUBMITTER: Crone JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3895618 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature