Inferring functional network-based signatures via structurally-weighted LASSO model

Most current research approaches for functional/effective connectivity analysis focus on pair-wise connectivity and cannot deal with network-scale functional interactions. In this paper, we propose a structurally-weighted LASSO (SW-LASSO) regression model to represent the functional interaction among multiple regions of interests (ROIs) based on resting state fMRI (R-fMRI) data. The structural connectivity constraints derived from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data will guide the selection of the weights which adjust the penalty levels of different coefficients corresponding to different ROIs. Using the Default Mode Network (DMN) as a test-bed, our results indicate that the learned SW-LASSO has good capability of differentiating Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) subjects from their normal controls and has promising potential to characterize the brain functions among different condition, thus serving as the functional network-based signature.