Complexity in disguise: a systematic review of fractal analysis in psychiatric neuroimaging.
Marta Reales-Moreno, Alexandra Korda, Stefan Borgwardt
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review examined the application of fractal analysis in neuroimaging to characterize psychiatric conditions, focusing on young adults. It identified 39 studies, highlighting that abnormalities in the frontal cortex are common across disorders like schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorder. The review emphasizes the potential of fractal dimension analysis in understanding brain patterns, though it notes limitations in current methodologies.
Key findings
- Fractal analysis revealed consistent patterns in brain alterations across multiple psychiatric disorders.
- Abnormalities in the frontal cortex were identified as a common neurobiological feature.
- Studies using whole-brain fractal dimension may overlook local abnormalities due to high tissue inclusion.
- The review underscores the need for a standardized fractal analysis protocol for better psychiatric insights.
Why it matters
Understanding the fractal patterns in neuroimaging could enhance the characterization of psychiatric disorders, potentially leading to improved diagnostic processes and earlier detection of conditions. However, the current lack of standardized protocols limits its clinical application.