Network Homogeneity Analysis Of Cervical Dystonia:A Resting State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Background: While a couple of brain networks act crucial roles in patients suffering from cervical dystonia(CD),the changes of the network homogeneity(NH)in CD patients have been meagerly investigated.The purpose of this study is to investigate brain NH of CD patients through an NH method at rest and determine its correlations with age,illness duration,and symptom severity as measured by Tsui scale.Methods: An automated NH method was used to assess the NH during the resting state in 19 CD patients and 21 gender-,age-,and education-matched healthy controls(HC).Results: Compared to the HC,the CD group showed lower NH in the right medial superior frontal gyrus.No brain regions showed higher NH in comparison to the HC.No significant correlation was found between abnormal NH values and age,illness duration,or symptom severity.Concussion: Our findings suggest that abnormal NH of supplementarymotor area(SMA)and the default mode network(DMN)exists in CD patients and further highlight the importance of SMA and the DMN in the pathophysiology of cervical dystonia.