Stable long-term functional connectivity predict multiple aspects of cortico-cortical evoked potentials

Abstract Direct cortical stimulation holds the potential to treat a range of neuropsychiatric disorders in which the connectivity of distributed networks functions abnormally. Mapping cortico-cortical evoked potentials (CCEPs) in response to direct electrical brain stimulation provides powerful insight into the organization of cortical networks. Despite many advances in quantifying cortical networks with CCEPs, the timing, direction, and magnitude of the responses are not fully understood. To better elucidate the relationship between CCEPs and cortical networks, we collected human electrocorticographic recordings from neurosurgical epilepsy patients while delivering single pulses of stimulation. We then created a directed adjacency matrix based on which electrodes responded. Next, we built directed functional adjacency matrices from at-rest data collected at least 12 hours separated from the stimulation session. We demonstrate that the estimated functional connections significantly overlap with the CCEPs and vice versa. Notably, one technique used to generate the functional adjacency matrices was able to capture the directionality of the connections while another technique predicted the onset and magnitude of the CCEPs. Using different metrics to predict the direction, timing, and magnitude of CCEPs is impactful as it provides new insights and tools for analyzing cortical networks. These results will enable more precise predictions of the responses to electrical brain stimulation furthering the development of targeted stimulation therapies. Research Category and Technology and Methods Clinical Research: 13. Other Brain Stimulation Technology Keywords: Cortical stimulation, Cortico-cortical evoked potentials, Functional connectivity, Cortical networks