Evaluation of the impacts of neuromuscular electrical stimulation based on cortico-muscular-cortical functional network

IF 4.9 2区医学 Q1 COMPUTER SCIENCE, INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATIONS

Computer methods and programs in biomedicine Pub Date : 2025-03-21 DOI:10.1016/j.cmpb.2025.108735

Jianpeng Tang , Xugang Xi , Ting Wang , Lihua Li , Jian Yang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background and objective

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been extensively applied for recovery of motor functions. However, its impact on the cortical network changes related to muscle activity remains unclear, which is crucial for understanding the changes in the collaborative working patterns within the sensory-motor control system post-stroke.

Methods

In this research, we have integrated cortico-muscular interactions, intercortical interactions, and intramuscular interactions to propose a novel closed-loop network structure, namely the cortico-muscular-cortical functional network (CMCFN). The framework is endowed with the capability to distinguish the directionality of causal interactions and local frequency band characteristics through transfer spectral entropy (TSE). Subsequently, the CMCFN is applied to stroke patients to elucidate the potential influence of NMES on cortical physiological function changes during motor induction.

Results

The results indicate that short-term modulation by NMES significantly enhanced the cortico-muscular interactions of the contralateral cerebral hemisphere and the affected upper limb (p < 0.001), while coexistence of facilitatory and inhibitory effects is observed in the intermuscular coupling across different electromyography (EMG) signals. Furthermore, following NMES treatment, the connectivity of the brain functional network is significantly strengthened, particularly in the γ frequency band (30–45 Hz), with marked improvements in the clustering coefficient and shortest path length (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

As a new framework, CMCFN offers a novel perspective for studying motor cortical networks related to muscle activity.

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来源期刊

Computer methods and programs in biomedicine 工程技术-工程：生物医学

CiteScore

12.30

自引率

6.60%

发文量

601

审稿时长

135 days

期刊介绍： To encourage the development of formal computing methods, and their application in biomedical research and medical practice, by illustration of fundamental principles in biomedical informatics research; to stimulate basic research into application software design; to report the state of research of biomedical information processing projects; to report new computer methodologies applied in biomedical areas; the eventual distribution of demonstrable software to avoid duplication of effort; to provide a forum for discussion and improvement of existing software; to optimize contact between national organizations and regional user groups by promoting an international exchange of information on formal methods, standards and software in biomedicine. Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine covers computing methodology and software systems derived from computing science for implementation in all aspects of biomedical research and medical practice. It is designed to serve: biochemists; biologists; geneticists; immunologists; neuroscientists; pharmacologists; toxicologists; clinicians; epidemiologists; psychiatrists; psychologists; cardiologists; chemists; (radio)physicists; computer scientists; programmers and systems analysts; biomedical, clinical, electrical and other engineers; teachers of medical informatics and users of educational software.