Multi-hops functional connectivity improves individual prediction of fusiform face activation via a graph neural network

Brain connectivity plays an important role in determining the brain region9s function. Previous researchers proposed that the brain region9s function is characterized by that region9s input and output connectivity profiles. Following this proposal, numerous studies have investigated the relationship between connectivity and function. However, based on a preliminary analysis, this proposal is deficient in explaining individual differences in the brain region9s function. To overcome this problem, we proposed that a brain region9s function is characterized by that region9s multi-hops connectivity profile. To test this proposal, we used multi-hops functional connectivity to predict the individual face response of the right fusiform face area (rFFA) via a multi-layers graph neural network and showed that the prediction performance is essentially improved. Results also indicated that the 2-layers graph neural network is the best in characterizing rFFA9s face response and revealed a hierarchical network for the face processing of rFFA.