Test-retest Reliability of Functional Connectivity and Graph Metrics in the Resting Brain Network.

Abstract

The combination of graph theoretical approaches and neuroimaging data provides a powerful way to explore the characteristics of brain network. Recently, the temporal variability of spontaneous brain activity and functional connectivity has attracted wide attention. Thus, it is essential to evaluate the reliability of functional network connectivity and properties from the dynamic perspective. However, previous test-retest (TRT) studies have explored this reliability with a static point of view. In this study, using a large rs-fMRI dataset from Human Connectome Project (HCP), we investigated TRT reliability of functional connectivity and graph metrics derived from the most commonly used method- sliding window at three time intervals (short: 72 seconds, middle: 15 minutes and long: >24 hours). The results revealed that reliable connectivities and related brain regions are mainly distributed in primary cortex, such as visual area and sensorimotor area and default mode network. Notably, connectivity strength and global efficiency have better reliability than other metrics. Finally, short scan time interval and long scan duration can increase the TRT reliability of metrics. Findings of present study provide important guidance for searching reliable network markers in future research.