TY - JOUR
T1 - Resting-state functional connectivity and its association with multiple domains of upper-extremity function in chronic stroke
AU - Urbin, M. A.
AU - Hong, Xin
AU - Lang, Catherine E.
AU - Carter, Alex R.
N1 - Funding Information:
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (Grants T32HD007434 to MAU, R01HD068290 to CEL, and 5K08NS064365 to ARC).
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2014.
PY - 2014/10/11
Y1 - 2014/10/11
N2 - Background. Recent work has shown that resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) between homotopic, motor-related brain regions is associated with upper-extremity control early after stroke.Objectives. This study examined various patterns of rsFC in chronic stroke, a time at which extensive neural reorganization has occurred. Associations between homotopic somatomotor connectivity and clinical measures, representing separate domains of upper-extremity function, were determined.Methods. A total of 19 persons ≥6 months poststroke participated. Four connectivity patterns within a somatomotor network were quantified using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Upper-extremity gross muscle activation, control, and real-world use were evaluated with the Motricity Index, Action Research Arm Test, and accelerometry, respectively.Results. Connectivity between homotopic regions was stronger than that in the contralesional and ipsilesional hemispheres. No differences in connectivity strength were noted between homotopic pairs, indicating that a specific brain structure was not driving somatomotor network connectivity. Homotopic connectivity was significantly associated with both upper-extremity control (r = 0.53; P=.02) and real-world use (r = 0.54; P=.02); however, there was no association with gross muscle activation (r = 0.23; P=.34). The combination of clinical measures accounted for 40% of the variance in rsFC (=.05).Conclusions. The results reported here expand on previous findings, indicating that homotopic rsFC persists in chronic stroke and discriminates between varying levels of upper-extremity control and real-world use. Further work is needed to evaluate its adequacy as a biomarker of motor recovery following stroke.
AB - Background. Recent work has shown that resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) between homotopic, motor-related brain regions is associated with upper-extremity control early after stroke.Objectives. This study examined various patterns of rsFC in chronic stroke, a time at which extensive neural reorganization has occurred. Associations between homotopic somatomotor connectivity and clinical measures, representing separate domains of upper-extremity function, were determined.Methods. A total of 19 persons ≥6 months poststroke participated. Four connectivity patterns within a somatomotor network were quantified using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Upper-extremity gross muscle activation, control, and real-world use were evaluated with the Motricity Index, Action Research Arm Test, and accelerometry, respectively.Results. Connectivity between homotopic regions was stronger than that in the contralesional and ipsilesional hemispheres. No differences in connectivity strength were noted between homotopic pairs, indicating that a specific brain structure was not driving somatomotor network connectivity. Homotopic connectivity was significantly associated with both upper-extremity control (r = 0.53; P=.02) and real-world use (r = 0.54; P=.02); however, there was no association with gross muscle activation (r = 0.23; P=.34). The combination of clinical measures accounted for 40% of the variance in rsFC (=.05).Conclusions. The results reported here expand on previous findings, indicating that homotopic rsFC persists in chronic stroke and discriminates between varying levels of upper-extremity control and real-world use. Further work is needed to evaluate its adequacy as a biomarker of motor recovery following stroke.
KW - hemiparesis
KW - motor control
KW - resting-state functional connectivity
KW - stroke
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84904065281&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1545968314522349
DO - 10.1177/1545968314522349
M3 - Article
C2 - 24553104
AN - SCOPUS:84904065281
VL - 28
SP - 761
EP - 769
JO - Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
JF - Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
SN - 1545-9683
IS - 8
ER -