Using Eigenvector Centrality to Measure the Effect of Propofol-Induced Sedation on Functional Connectivity

Gabriele Lohmann¹, Wolfgang Heinke², Burkhard Pleger¹, Joeran Lepsien¹, Stefan Zysset³, Robert Turner¹

Propofol is an anesthestic agent widely used in clinical practice which is known to affect episodic memory. The exact mechanism causing this effect is still unclear. Here we investigated whether propofol has a region-specific effect on functional connectivity in fMRI data. Subjects were scanned under the influence of propofol or a placebo. Functional connectivity was assessed using an algorithm new to fMRI data analysis called 'eigenvector centrality'. Our results suggest that the well known impairment of episodic memory after propofol infusion is related to an impaired function of cerebellar regions known to be involved in memory encoding.