Analysis of Brain Functional Connectivity in Patients with Delayed Encephalopathy after Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Based on Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Technology

Introduction: The aim of the study was to observe the brain network characteristics of delayed encephalopathy after carbon monoxide poisoning (DEACMP) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology. Methods: Fifteen patients with carbon monoxide poisoning (DEACMP group) hospitalized in the Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, from November 2023 to March 2024 were selected. Fifteen healthy volunteers (the control group) were also recruited. Six-minute resting-state fNIRS data were collected from all subjects. Five cognitive-related key brain regions were selected as regions of interest (ROI): parietal cortex (PC), premotor cortex (PMC), frontopolar cortex (FPC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). NirSpark software was used to analyze the differences in whole-brain functional connectivity strength and functional connectivity strength within and between ROIs between the two groups. Results: The functional connectivity strength of the left PMC, right PMC, and left FPC, etc. In the DEACMP group, it was significantly lower than that in the control group (p < 0.05, FDR corrected). Compared with the control group, the brain network of DEACMP patients showed heterogeneity from left PC to right PC; left PC∼left PMC; left PC∼right PMC; left PC∼left DLPFC, etc. The functional connectivity strength between the left PC and the right DLPFC area has significantly decreased. All these differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05, FDR adjusted). Conclusion: DEACMP exhibits abnormal functional connectivity in both whole-brain and cognitive-related key brain regions. This aberrant connectivity may represent the underlying neural network mechanisms responsible for the cognitive dysfunction observed in DEACMP.