Assessing the Requirement to Change the Resting-state Networks throughout Lifespan Stages

Introduction: Neuroplasticity is the capability of the neural system to modify its function when it encounters new situations and needs changes. Despite devoting many efforts to study neuroplasticity, measuring the fequirement to change is not yet well described. In This study, we addressed this issue in the brain functional network over the lifespan suing structural balance theeory. Methods: We selected ۵۲۷ healthy male subjects from two publicly available repositories, ABIDE and Southwest. We preprocessed resting-states functional images of selected subjects and took out activity patterns of regions of interest. Afterward, we estimated the functional connectivities and binarized values of connections to get a signed network for each subject. Then, we counted triadic frustrations that appeared in the signed networks. We divided subjects according to Erikson's developmental stages including childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood, and late adulthood. Finally, we performed a multiple-group statistical analysis to compare the number of appeared frustrations between the stages of life. In addition to the number of frustrated triads, we also compared the percentage of negative links and topological measures of the Tendency to Make negative Hub (negative TMH) and negative degree distributions across the lifespan. Results: We showed that the number of triadic frustrations of resting-state networks alters over the lifespan in a U-shape type manner with the lowest level in early adulthood. Interestingly, the percentage of the negative links behave in the same way and indicate a non-linear relationship with the number of frustrations. Although, we did not find any significant differences between different stages of the lifespan in terms of negative TMH and negative degree distribution. Conclusion: According to the results, we concluded that the growing percentage of the negative links increases the number of frustrations as a measure of the requirement to change functional network; where negative TMH and negative degree distribution remain consistent.