Mapping the Cortical Network Arising From Up-Regulated Amygdaloidal Activation Using -Louvain Algorithm

• Published in: IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering Vol. 26; no. 6; p. 1169
• Main Authors: Liu, Ning, Yu, Xueli, Yao, Li, Zhao, Xiaojie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) 01.06.2018
• Subjects: Activation; Algorithms; Amygdala; Brain; Brain mapping; Clustering; Correlation analysis; Covariance; Feedback; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging; Network analysis; Neuroimaging; Nuclei; Target recognition; Temporal cortex; Training
• ISSN: 1534-4320; 1558-0210; 1558-0210
• DOI: 10.1109/TNSRE.2018.2838075

The amygdala plays an important role in emotion processing. Several studies have proved that its activation can be regulated by real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rtfMRI)-based neurofeedback training. However, although studies have found brain regions that are functionally closely connected to the amygdala in the cortex, it is not clear whether these brain regions and the amygdala are structurally closely connected, and if they show the same training effect as the amygdala in the process of emotional regulation. In this paper, we instructed subjects to up-regulate the activation of the left amygdala (LA) through rtfMRI-based neurofeedback training. In order to fuse multimodal imaging data, we introduced a network analysis method called the -Louvain clustering algorithm. This method was used to integrate multimodal data from the training experiment and construct an LA-cortical network. Correlation analysis and main-effect analysis were conducted to determine the signal covariance associated with the activation of the target area; ultimately, we identified the left temporal pole superior as the amygdaloidal-cortical network region. As a deep nucleus in the brain, the treatment and stimulation of the amygdala remains challenging. Our results provide new insights for the regulation of activation in a deep nucleus using more neurofeedback techniques.