The in vivo structure-function relationship is key to understanding brain network reorganization due to pathologies. This relationship is likely to be particularly complex in brain network diseases such as temporal lobe epilepsy, in which disturbed large-scale systems are involved in both transient electrical events and long-lasting functional and structural impairments. Herein, we estimated this relationship by analyzing the correlation between structural connectivity and functional connectivity in terms of analytical network communication parameters. As such, we targeted the gradual topological structure-function reorganization caused by the pathology not only at the whole brain scale but also both in core and peripheral regions of the brain. We acquired diffusion (dMRI) and resting-state fMRI (rsfMRI) data in seven right-lateralized TLE (rTLE) patients and fourteen healthy controls and analyzed the structure-function relationship by using analytical network communication metrics derived from the structural connectome. In rTLE patients, we found a widespread hypercorrelated functional network. Network communication analysis revealed greater unspecific branching of the shortest path (search information) in the structural connectome and a higher global correlation between the structural and functional connectivity for the patient group. We also found evidence for a preserved structural rich-club in the patient group. In sum, global augmentation of structure-function correlation might be linked to a smaller functional repertoire in rTLE patients, while sparing the central core of the brain which may represent a pathway that facilitates the spread of seizures.
•rTLE patients exhibit increased mean search information compared controls.•Structural search information best predicts functional connectivity in both groups.•Whole brain structure-function correlation is increased in rTLE patients.•Structure-function correlation differs in brain periphery but not in the rich club.
Keywords: CSD, constrained spherical deconvolution; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; FA, fractional anisotropy; FCA, analytic functional connectivity; FCD, functional connectivity dynamics; FOD, fiber orientation distribution; Functional connectivity; NBS, network based statistics; Network based statistics; Network communication; Rich club; Structural connectivity; Temporal lobe epilepsy; dMRI, diffusion magnetic resonance imaging; rTLE, right temporal lobe epilepsy; rsfMRI, resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging.