Multiscale fMRI analysis reveals hierarchical network disruptions underlying disorders of consciousness

S.A. Kurkin, L.A. Mayorova, V.S. Khorev, E.N. Pitsik, M.L. Radutnaya, E.L. Bondar and A.E. Hramov

Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, 2025, vol. 200, issue P1

Abstract: Disorders of consciousness following anoxic brain injury present profound clinical and scientific challenges, with current diagnostic methods often failing to capture underlying neuronal network pathophysiology. Here, we develop a novel multiscale framework combining global, macro-, and local-level network analyses to characterize functional connectivity alterations in vegetative (VS) and minimally conscious states (MCS) in patients with anoxic brain damage/ after anoxic brain damage. While global network architecture remained preserved, macro-level analyses revealed selective disruptions in the cingulate operculum and ventral attention networks, with opposing centrality patterns suggesting network-specific reorganization. Modified participation coefficients demonstrated widespread imbalances in integration–segregation across large-scale networks, particularly affecting perception and salience systems. Network-based statistics identified a conserved triangular hypo-connectivity pattern (anterior cingulate-orbitofrontal-temporal) alongside state-specific hyperconnectivity profiles in VS and MCS patients compared to healthy controls. Our multigraph integration revealed asymmetric reorganization: VS patients exhibited extensive compensatory hyperconnectivity, while MCS showed predominant hypo-connectivity with partial VAN-mediated compensation. These findings establish a hierarchical model of consciousness impairment, where core network disruptions interact with state-dependent compensatory mechanisms. The multiscale approach provides clinically actionable biomarkers while advancing theoretical understanding of neural correlates of consciousness, offering new avenues for targeted interventions.

Keywords: Disorders of consciousness; Anoxic brain injury; Vegetative state; Minimally conscious state; fMRI; Functional brain networks; Large-scale networks; Multiscale analysis; Multigraph model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960077925010215
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:chsofr:v:200:y:2025:i:p1:s0960077925010215

DOI: 10.1016/j.chaos.2025.117008

Access Statistics for this article

Chaos, Solitons & Fractals is currently edited by Stefano Boccaletti and Stelios Bekiros

More articles in Chaos, Solitons & Fractals from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Thayer, Thomas R. ().