Skip Nav Destination
Close Modal
Update search
NARROW
Format
Journal
Date
Availability
1-1 of 1
Tabinda Sarwar
Close
Follow your search
Access your saved searches in your account
Would you like to receive an alert when new items match your search?
Sort by
Journal Articles
Publisher: Journals Gateway
Network Neuroscience (2024) 8 (4): 1291–1309.
Published: 10 December 2024
FIGURES
| View All (4)
Abstract
View article
PDF
Several recent studies have optimized deep neural networks to learn high-dimensional relationships linking structural and functional connectivity across the human connectome. However, the extent to which these models recapitulate individual-specific characteristics of resting-state functional brain networks remains unclear. A core concern relates to whether current individual predictions outperform simple benchmarks such as group averages and null conditions. Here, we consider two measures to statistically evaluate whether functional connectivity predictions capture individual effects. We revisit our previously published functional connectivity predictions for 1,000 healthy adults and provide multiple lines of evidence supporting that our predictions successfully capture subtle individual-specific variation in connectivity. While predicted individual effects are statistically significant and outperform several benchmarks, we find that effect sizes are small (i.e., 8%–11% improvement relative to group-average benchmarks). As such, initial expectations about individual prediction performance expressed by us and others may require moderation. We conclude that individual predictions can significantly outperform appropriate benchmark conditions and we provide several recommendations for future studies in this area. Future studies should statistically assess the individual prediction performance of their models using one of the measures and benchmarks provided here. Author Summary Functional and structural brain networks share considerable overlap in network architecture. However, it remains debated whether deep neural networks can be trained to predict an individual's functional brain network from their structural connectome. We demonstrate that individual variability in functional brain connectivity can be successfully predicted from an individual's connectome, although prediction performance is modest when benchmarked against appropriate null models. We provide recommendations for future studies aiming to evaluate such predictions, specifically considering the impact of Riemann geometry, adjustments for cross-validation induced dependence and standardization. Accurate prediction models will enable extrapolation of functional networks for individuals without empirically acquired functional MRI data or noisy data. They may also facilitate digital simulations of the potential functional consequences arising from pathological changes in the connectome.
Includes: Supplementary data