AbstractsPsychology

Identifying Changes of Functional Brain Networks using Graph Theory

by Alexander Schäfer




Institution: Max-Planck-Institut für Kognitions- und Neurowissenschaften
Department:
Degree: PhD
Year: 2015
Record ID: 1100300
Full text PDF: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:15-qucosa-166041


Abstract

This thesis gives an overview on how to estimate changes in functional brain networks using graph theoretical measures. It explains the assessment and definition of functional brain networks derived from fMRI data. More explicitly, this thesis provides examples and newly developed methods on the measurement and visualization of changes due to pathology, external electrical stimulation or ongoing internal thought processes. These changes can occur on long as well as on short time scales and might be a key to understanding brain pathologies and their development. Furthermore, this thesis describes new methods to investigate and visualize these changes on both time scales and provides a more complete picture of the brain as a dynamic and constantly changing network.