SCNNs: Spike-Based Coupling Neural Networks for Understanding Structural-Functional Relationships in the Human Brain

Abstract

Structural-functional coupling (SC-FC coupling) offers an effective approach for analyzing structural-functional relationships, capable of revealing the dependency of functional activity on the underlying white matter architecture. However, extant SC-FC coupling analysis methods primarily center on disclosing the statistical association between the topological patterns of structural connectivity (SC) and functional connectivity (FC), while often neglecting the neurobiological mechanisms by which the brain typically transmits and processes information in the form of spikes. To address this, we propose a biologically inspired deep-learning model called spike-based coupling neural networks (SCNNs). It can simulate spiking neural activity to more realistically reproduce the interaction between brain regions and the dynamic behavior of neuronal networks. Specifically, we first use spike neurons to capture the FC temporal characteristics of the original functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) time series and the SC spatial characteristics of the structural brain network. Then, we use synaptic and neuronal filter effects to simulate the coupling mechanism of SC and FC in the brain at different temporal and spatial scales, thereby quantifying SC-FC coupling and providing support for the identification of brain diseases. The results on real datasets show that the proposed method can identify brain diseases and provide a new perspective for understanding SC-FC relationships.