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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
Real-Time Assessment of Spinal Cord Microperfusion in a Porcine Model of Ischemia/Reperfusion
Published on: December 10, 2020
Measuring the hemodynamic response in chronic hypoperfusion
Julius Fridriksson1, Chris Rorden, Paul S Morgan
1Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA. jfridrik@sc.edu
Abstract:
Although structural brain scans help assess brain injury in stroke, they cannot identify regions that are functionally disabled due to disrupted perfusion. Perfusion and functional MRI have the potential for determining the functional consequences of stroke. Here we examine the effectiveness of functional MRI to measure brain function in a single patient (LB) with chronic hypoperfusion. When LB made sustained hand movements we observed a sustained decrease in the fMRI signal, while normal individuals exhibit a sustained increase in signal while conducting this task. This work has clear implications for understanding stroke using functional MRI.
Insights
Functional MRI can detect functional brain changes after stroke, unlike standard scans. In a patient with chronic hypoperfusion, fMRI showed a signal decrease during hand movements, contrasting with normal brain activity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Stroke research
- Brain function assessment
Background:
- Structural brain scans are limited in identifying functionally disabled brain regions post-stroke.
- Perfusion and functional MRI (fMRI) offer potential for assessing stroke's functional consequences.
Observation:
- This study investigated functional MRI's effectiveness in measuring brain function in a patient (LB) with chronic hypoperfusion.
- LB exhibited a sustained decrease in the fMRI signal during sustained hand movements.
Findings:
- Normal individuals show a sustained increase in fMRI signal during motor tasks.
- The patient (LB) demonstrated an inverse fMRI signal response compared to healthy controls, indicating functional disruption.
Implications:
- Functional MRI can reveal functional deficits in stroke patients that are not apparent with structural imaging.
- This technique has significant potential for understanding and managing stroke by characterizing perfusion-related functional impairments.
