Impact of Brain Functional Network Properties on Intelligence in Children and Adolescents with Focal Epilepsy: A Resting-state MRI Study

Rationale and Objective Epilepsy is a common pediatric disease that often leads to cognitive and intellectual impairments. Here, we explore the reorganized functional networks in children and adolescents with focal epilepsy (CAFE) and analyze the relationship between network reorganization and intellectual deficits to reveal the underlying link between them. Materials and Methods Fifty-four CAFE (6–16 years old; right-handed) and 42 well-matched healthy controls were recruited. Subjects underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, and functional networks were analyzed by graph analysis. Intelligence testing (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Chinese revision) included measures for verbal IQ (VIQ), performance IQ, and full-scale IQ. Results (1) In the CAFE compared with the healthy controls, (a) the local efficiency, clustering coefficient and standardized clustering coefficient were significantly decreased (p Conclusion Our results showed that the middle LPG in CAFE undergoes network reorganization that positively influences intelligence. Differences in local efficiency of functional networks in children and early adolescents have a significant effect on intelligence.