Studying the Distinction between Emotions in fMRI Data by Using Temporal Network Theory

Abstract

Purpose: Our purpose in this study was to investigate the distinction between emotional states and the performance of the brain during different feelings by using temporal network theory.
Materials and Methods: For investigating the distinction between emotions, we chose functional magnetic resonance imaging data acquired during the display of an emotional audio-movie. In order to derive dynamic functional connectivity and create time-graphlets, we used spatial distance method and for studying the features of the temporal network, we applied different temporal network measures.
Results: Considering statistical comparisons, two global measures of temporal efficiency and reachability latency showed a significant difference between at least one pair of emotional states and we observed different meaningful regions in each temporal centrality measure.
Conclusion: The results of this analytic method showed that the brain network pattern during the expression of different emotional states is different compared to one another and also varies through time.