{"title":"Structural connectivity changes in the motor execution network after stroke rehabilitation.","authors":"Pradeepa Ruwan Wanni Arachchige, Sadhani Karunarathna, Abdul Chalik Meidian, Ryo Ueda, Wataru Uchida, Masahiro Abo, Atsushi Senoo","doi":"10.3233/RNN-211148","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Although quite a very few studies have tested structural connectivity changes following an intervention, it reflects only selected key brain regions in the motor network. Thus, the understanding of structural connectivity changes related to the motor recovery process remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study investigated structural connectivity changes of the motor execution network following a combined intervention of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF-rTMS) and intensive occupational therapy (OT) after a stroke using graph theory approach.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Fifty-six stroke patients underwent Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Wolf Motor Function Test-Functional Ability Scale (WMFT-FAS), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and T1 weighted imaging before and after the intervention. We examined graph theory measures related to twenty brain regions using structural connectomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The ipsilesional and contralesional hemisphere showed structural connectivity changes post-intervention after stroke. We found significantly increased regional centralities and nodal efficiency within the frontal pole and decreased degree centrality and nodal efficiency in the ipsilesional thalamus. Correlations were found between network measures and clinical assessments in the cuneus, postcentral gyrus, precentral gyrus, and putamen of the ipsilesional hemisphere. The contralesional areas such as the caudate, cerebellum, and frontal pole also showed significant correlations.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study was helpful to expand the understanding of structural connectivity changes in both hemispheric networks during the motor recovery process following LF-rTMS and intensive OT after stroke.</p>","PeriodicalId":21130,"journal":{"name":"Restorative neurology and neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9000,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/d7/6c/rnn-39-rnn211148.PMC8543268.pdf","citationCount":"2","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Restorative neurology and neuroscience","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.3233/RNN-211148","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"NEUROSCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 2
Abstract
Background: Although quite a very few studies have tested structural connectivity changes following an intervention, it reflects only selected key brain regions in the motor network. Thus, the understanding of structural connectivity changes related to the motor recovery process remains unclear.
Objective: This study investigated structural connectivity changes of the motor execution network following a combined intervention of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF-rTMS) and intensive occupational therapy (OT) after a stroke using graph theory approach.
Methods: Fifty-six stroke patients underwent Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Wolf Motor Function Test-Functional Ability Scale (WMFT-FAS), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and T1 weighted imaging before and after the intervention. We examined graph theory measures related to twenty brain regions using structural connectomes.
Results: The ipsilesional and contralesional hemisphere showed structural connectivity changes post-intervention after stroke. We found significantly increased regional centralities and nodal efficiency within the frontal pole and decreased degree centrality and nodal efficiency in the ipsilesional thalamus. Correlations were found between network measures and clinical assessments in the cuneus, postcentral gyrus, precentral gyrus, and putamen of the ipsilesional hemisphere. The contralesional areas such as the caudate, cerebellum, and frontal pole also showed significant correlations.
Conclusions: This study was helpful to expand the understanding of structural connectivity changes in both hemispheric networks during the motor recovery process following LF-rTMS and intensive OT after stroke.
期刊介绍:
This interdisciplinary journal publishes papers relating to the plasticity and response of the nervous system to accidental or experimental injuries and their interventions, transplantation, neurodegenerative disorders and experimental strategies to improve regeneration or functional recovery and rehabilitation. Experimental and clinical research papers adopting fresh conceptual approaches are encouraged. The overriding criteria for publication are novelty, significant experimental or clinical relevance and interest to a multidisciplinary audience. Experiments on un-anesthetized animals should conform with the standards for the use of laboratory animals as established by the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, US National Academy of Sciences. Experiments in which paralytic agents are used must be justified. Patient identity should be concealed. All manuscripts are sent out for blind peer review to editorial board members or outside reviewers. Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience is a member of Neuroscience Peer Review Consortium.