Modeling functional network topology following stroke through graph theory: functional reorganization and motor recovery prediction

Autor(es)

S.R.M. Almeida ; C.A. Stefano Filho ; J. Vicentini ; S.L. Novi ; R.C. Mesquita ; G. Castellano ; L.M. Li

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research; v. 55, 2022-08-15.

Resumo

The study of functional reorganization following stroke has been steadily growing supported by advances in neuroimaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Concomitantly, graph theory has been increasingly employed in neuroscience to model the brain's functional connectivity (FC) and to investigate it in a variety of contexts. The aims of this study were: 1) to investigate the reorganization of network topology in the ipsilesional (IL) and contralesional (CL) hemispheres of stroke patients with (motor stroke group) and without (control stroke group) motor impairment, and 2) to predict motor recovery through the relationship between local topological variations of the functional network and increased motor function. We modeled the brain's FC as a graph using fMRI data, and we characterized its interactions with the following graph metrics: degree, clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, and betweenness centrality (BC). For both patient groups, BC yielded the largest variations between the two analyzed time points, especially in the motor stroke group. This group presented significant correlations (P<0.05) between average BC changes and the improvements in upper-extremity Fugl-Meyer (UE-FM) scores at the primary sensorimotor cortex and the supplementary motor area for the CL hemisphere. These regions participate in processes related to the selection, planning, and execution of movement. Generally, higher increases in average BC over these areas were related to larger improvements in UE-FM assessment. Although the sample was small, these results suggest the possibility of using BC as an indication of brain plasticity mechanisms following stroke. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 16/22116-9 - Investigação da técnica de treinamento por neurofeedback utilizando ressonância magnética
• Beneficiário: Carlos Alberto Stefano Filho
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 17/10341-0 - Investigação da técnica de treinamento por neurofeedback utilizando ressonância magnética
• Beneficiário: Carlos Alberto Stefano Filho
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 13/07559-3 - Instituto Brasileiro de Neurociência e Neurotecnologia - BRAINN
• Beneficiário: Fernando Cendes
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Centros de Pesquisa, Inovação e Difusão - CEPIDs