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Updated: Jul 11, 2026
Electroencephalography Network Indices as Biomarkers of Upper Limb Impairment in Chronic Stroke
Published on: July 14, 2023
Quantitative EEG indices of sub-acute ischaemic stroke correlate with clinical outcomes
Simon P Finnigan1, Michael Walsh, Stephen E Rose
1Centre for Magnetic Resonance, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. finnigan.simon@gmail.com
Objective:
We investigated the ability of quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) measures in sub-acute stroke to assist monitoring or prognostication of stroke evolution. QEEG indices and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores were compared.
Methods:
Ischaemic cortical stroke patients were studied. Resting, 62-channel EEG and NIHSS score were acquired at 49+/-3h post-symptom onset, and NIHSS administered at 30+/-2 days post-stroke. Mean power was calculated for delta (1-4 Hz), theta (4.1-8 Hz), alpha (8.1-12.5 Hz) and beta (12.6-30 Hz) frequency bands, using a 62-channel electrode array and a 19-channel subset.
Results:
Thirteen patients (6 male, median age 66, range 54-86 years) were studied. Sub-acute delta:alpha power ratio (DAR; r=0.91, P<0.001), relative alpha power (r=-0.82, P<0.01), and NIHSS score (r=0.92, P<0.001) each were significantly correlated with 30-day NIHSS score. The former two significant correlations were upheld in 19-channel EEG data. QEEG measures involving theta or beta power were not significantly correlated with NIHSS scores.
Conclusions:
QEEG measures such as DAR demonstrate potential to augment bedside assessment of cerebral pathophysiology and prognostication of stroke evolution. A standard, 19-channel array seems adequate for these purposes. Future studies in larger samples should investigate the potential effects on these measures of sleep state and possible causes of artefacts.
Significance:
QEEG measures from a standard number of electrodes, if available rapidly and robust to potential artefacts, may inform future management of stroke patients.
