Correlation between brain functional connectivity and neurocognitive function in patients with left frontal glioma

Abstract

The association between neurocognitive function (NCF) impairment and brain cortical functional connectivity in glioma patients remains unclear. The correlations between brain oscillatory activity or functional connectivity and NCF measured by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale full-scale intelligence quotient scores (WAIS FSIQ), the Wechsler Memory Scale-revised general memory scores (WMS-R GM), and the Western aphasia battery aphasia quotient scores (WAB AQ) were evaluated in 18 patients with left frontal glioma using resting-state electroencephalography (EEG). Current source density (CSD) and lagged phase synchronization (LPS) were analyzed using exact low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA). Although 2 and 2 patients scored in the borderline range of WAIS FSIQ and WMS-R GM, respectively, the mean WAIS FSIQ, WMS-R GM, and WAB AQ values of all patients were within normal limits, and none had aphasia. In the correlation analysis, lower WMS-R GM was associated with a higher LPS value between the right anterior prefrontal cortex and the left superior parietal lobule in the beta1 band (13-20 Hz, R = - 0.802, P = 0.012). These findings suggest that LPS evaluated by scalp EEG is associated with memory function in patients with left frontal glioma and mild NCF disorders.

Figure 1

Lesion topography of 18 patients with left frontal gliomas in Montreal Neurological Institute space. Each voxel was identified as part of the tumor region from at least one patient. The color bar represents the number of patients with a lesion on a specific voxel.

Figure 2

Averaged eLORETA source current density in each frequency band in patients with left frontal gliomas. The color map indicates the current source density (CSD) from black at 0 to yellow at 2.0.

Figure 3

Association between lagged phase synchronization and general memory and verbal memory scores by eLORETA. (a) eLORETA wire diagrams of the right anterior prefrontal cortex (raPFC) and left superior parietal lobule (lSPL) show significant negative correlations with general memory (GM) and verbal memory scores in beta1 lagged phase synchronization (LPS). The blue line indicates connectivity between raPFC and lSPL, with a significant negative correlation between GM and verbal memory scores and beta1 LPS. (b) Scatter plots of GM and beta1 LPS values, verbal memory scores and beta1 LPS value intensities for 18 subjects. GM and verbal memory scores show strong negative correlations with the LPS value between raPFC and lSPL in the beta1 band (GM score R = − 0.802, P = 0.012; Verbal memory score R = − 0.837, P = 0.004).