Revealing the spatiotemporal requirements for accurate subject identification with resting-state functional connectivity: a simultaneous fNIRS-fMRI study.

Significance: Brain fingerprinting refers to identifying participants based on their functional patterns. Despite its success with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), brain fingerprinting with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) still lacks adequate validation. Aim: We investigated how fNIRS-specific acquisition features (limited spatial information and nonneural contributions) influence resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) patterns at the intra-subject level and, therefore, brain fingerprinting. Approach: We performed multiple simultaneous fNIRS and fMRI measurements in 29 healthy participants at rest. Data were preprocessed following the best practices, including the removal of motion artifacts and global physiology. The rsFC maps were extracted with the Pearson correlation coefficient. Brain fingerprinting was tested with pairwise metrics and a simple linear classifier. Results: Our results show that average classification accuracy with fNIRS ranges from 75% to 98%, depending on the number of runs and brain regions used for classification. Under the right conditions, brain fingerprinting with fNIRS is close to the 99.9% accuracy found with fMRI. Overall, the classification accuracy is more impacted by the number of runs and the spatial coverage than the choice of the classification algorithm. Conclusions: This work provides evidence that brain fingerprinting with fNIRS is robust and reliable for extracting unique individual features at the intra-subject level once relevant spatiotemporal constraints are correctly employed.

Fragile X Syndrome and Epilepsy: case report / Síndrome do X Frágil e Epilepsia: relato de caso

Introduction: Learning disabilities is defined by intelligence quotient of less than or equal to 70 associated with limited learning functions such as cognition, language, motor function and social skills activities. Epilepsy is more common in individuals with learning disabilities and its frequency increases progressively considering severe intellectual impairment. Fragile X syndrome is the most common genetic cause of learning disability and 10-20% of these children have epilepsy. Methods: We describe a patient with fragile X syndrome, who had febrile seizures leading to temporal lobe epilepsy. Results: Male patient, 36 years old. He had several episodes of febrile seizures from one to seven years old and at the age of 27 he started with spontaneous dyscognitive seizures with possible temporal lobe origin. His brother, who also has the diagnosis of fragile X syndrome, presented a single afebrile seizure as a child. Patient's MRI showed left hippocampal atrophy. Conclusion: The relationship between febrile seizure and temporal lobe epilepsy in the context of fragile X syndrome is discussed in this article. Fragile X syndrome turns patients morevulnerable to have any kind of seizures. Therefore, we have to prevent febrile seizures in these patients...

Introdução: O déficit de aprendizagem é definido por quociente de inteligência inferior ou igual a 70 associado às funções limitadas de aprendizagem, tais como a cognição, a linguagem, a função motora e as habilidades sociais. Epilepsia é mais comum em indivíduos com dificuldades de aprendizagem e sua incidência aumenta progressivamente em pacientes com deficiência intelectual grave. Síndrome do X Fragil é a causa genética mais comum de deficiência de aprendizado e 10-20% destas crianças têm epilepsia. Métodos: Nós descrevemos um paciente com síndrome do X frágil, que teve convulsões febris e evoluiu com epilepsia do lobo temporal. Resultados: O paciente apresentou dois episódios de convulsão febril durante a infância e, com 27 anos, iniciou crises discognitivas típicas de lobo temporal. Seu irmão, que também tem síndrome do X frágil, apresentou crise afebril única na infância. A RM do paciente mostrou atrofia hipocampal à esquerda. Conclusão: A relação entre a convulsão febril e epilepsia do lobo temporal no contexto da síndrome do X frágil é discutida neste artigo. Pacientes com síndrome do X frágil são mais suscetíveis a ter qualquer tipo de crise epiléptica. Portanto, temos que tentar evitar crise febril prolongada nestes pacientes...