Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice ›› 2025, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (11): 1342-1353.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2025.11.011

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Characteristics of brain functional network based on electroencephalogram in post-stroke aphasia patients based on functional connectivity

ZHANG Zihan1, ZHANG Jiacheng1, LIU Jinghe1, CHEN Yuhang1, WU Dan1, WANG Huiying1, HUANG Xing2, CHANG Jingling1()   

  1. 1. Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100070, China
    2. Beijing Universitity of Chinese Medicine Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
  • Received:2025-06-03 Revised:2025-10-05 Published:2025-11-25 Online:2025-11-26
  • Contact: CHANG Jingling E-mail:ear6979@163.com
  • Supported by:
    Beijing Natural Science Foundation (General)(7242243);Pilot Project for Enhancing Clinical Research and Transformation Capacity of Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine(DZMG-XZYY-23008);Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Talent Cultivation Program(DZMG-LJRC0016)

Abstract:

Objective To analyze the characteristics of brain functional networks in patients with post-stroke aphasia (PSA) during a Chinese word-picture matching task.

Methods A total of 18 PSA patients in Dongzhimen Hospital from January, 2018 to December, 2021 were enrolled as PSA group, and nine healthy controls matched for sex, age and education were included as the control group. The Chinese Rehabilitation Research Center Aphasia Examination (CRRCAE) and task-state electroencephalogram (EEG) data based on a Chinese word-picture matching paradigm were collected. Source-space reconstruction was applied to EEG signals to construct functional connectivity matrices. Graph-theoretical analysis was used to compute global network properties, and network-based statistics were used to identify subnetwork differences between groups. Correlations between global network properties and CRRCAE subscales were further analyzed.

Results The global properties of each frequency band were higher in the control group (unmatched) than in PSA group and the control group (matched) (P < 0.01). Subnetworks connections enhanced in the alpha band in the frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital lobes and limbic system (23 nodes, 31 edges, P < 0.05), and weakened connections in the frontal, temporal, limbic system and basal ganglia (20 nodes, 26 edges, P < 0.01) in PSA group; in the beta band, subnetwork connections enhanced in the frontal, temporal lobes, basal ganglia and limbic system (15 nodes, 23 edges, P < 0.01); in the theta band, subnetwork connections weakened in the left frontal and temporal lobes (10 nodes, 11 edges, P < 0.05), and enhanced in the right frontal and temporal lobes (7 nodes, 7 edges, P < 0.05). Under the matched condition, the global properties of the alpha and beta bands in PSA group were positively correlated with reading (r = 0.511 to 0.650, all P < 0.05), and the local efficiency and average clustering coefficient of the theta band were negatively correlated with repetition (r = -0.500 to -0.505, all P < 0.05); under the unmatched condition, the local efficiency and average clustering coefficient of the alpha and beta bands in PSA group were positively correlated with reading (r = 0.522 to 0.642, all P < 0.05), and the global efficiency and local efficiency of the alpha band were positively correlated with auditory comprehension (r = 0.486 to 0.496, all P < 0.05). The comparison between the task state and the resting state further revealed that compensatory connection enhanced in the alpha band in the frontal lobe and limbic system (6 nodes, 5 edges, P < 0.05) and in the beta band in the frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital lobes and limbic system (38 nodes, 52 edges, P < 0.01) in PSA patients.

Conclusion The core network damage characteristics of PSA patients are abnormally decreased global properties across multiple frequency bands and frequency-specific abnormal network reorganization, suggesting the overall brain network efficiency decline coexists with local compensation. This provides an objective basis for the neuroelectrophysiological evaluation and targeted intervention of PSA.

Key words: post-stroke aphasia, functional connectivity, electroencephalogram, brain functional network, graph theory analysis

CLC Number: