Tracking dynamics of functional brain networks using dense EEG

M Hassan (1) , F Wendling (1)

1 LTSI - Laboratoire Traitement du Signal et de l'Image

Cognition is formed from networks between functionally specific but distributed brain regions. A very challenging issue in cognition is how to precisely track brain networks at very short temporal scales (often very short <1s). So far, very few studies have addressed this problem as it requires high temporal and spatial resolution simultaneously. Due to its excellent temporal resolution, Electroencephalography (EEG) is a key neuroimaging technique to access real-time information flow among large scale neuronal networks. Here, we propose a new method based on EEG source connectivity to map large-scale networks at high temporal (in the order of ms) and spatial (~1000 regions of interest) resolution. We show clear evidence of the ability of EEG source connectivity to track brain networks with high time/space resolutions during picture naming task. Our results reveal that the cognitive process can be decomposed into a sequence of transiently-stable and partially-overlapping networks. Our qualitative and quantitative observations show that the identified brain networks are in accordance with results reported in the literature regarding involved brain areas during the analyzed task.

Mots clés: Functional brain network; Dense EEG; EEG source connectivity

Domaines: Neurosciences

M Hassan, F Wendling. Tracking dynamics of functional brain networks using dense EEG. Innovation and Research in BioMedical engineering, 2015, 36 (6), pp.324-328. ⟨10.1016/j.irbm.2015.09.004⟩. ⟨hal-01223325⟩