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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
Motor Imagery Brain-Computer Interface in Rehabilitation of Upper Limb Motor Dysfunction After Stroke
Published on: September 1, 2023
Clinical characteristics and brain activation patterns of mirror movements in patients with corona radiata infarct
Mi Young Lee1, Jin Ho Choi, Rae Joon Park
1Department of Physical Therapy, Daegu Haany University, South Korea.
Objective:
Mirror movements (MMs) are a phenomenon of involuntary movements that accompany physically intended movements of the opposite side of the body. In the current study, we investigated the clinical characteristics and cortical activation patterns of MMs in patients with corona radiata (CR) infarct, using functional MRI.
Subjects And Methods:
We recruited 31 consecutive hemiparetic stroke patients with CR infarct. Functional MRI was performed to verify brain activation patterns during grasp-release movements of the affected hand, and MM of the unaffected hand was observed simultaneously.
Results:
The prevalence of MMs was 54.8% (17 out of 31 patients), and the intensity of MMs ranged from mild to moderate. The severity of MM in the unaffected hand is closely related to the poor motor function of the affected upper extremity and to activations of the unaffected motor cortex and both supplementary motor areas (SMAs) during the movement of the affected hand. In addition, the activations of unaffected motor cortex and both SMAs were closely related to poor motor function of the affected upper extremity.
Conclusions:
The results suggest that MMs, poor motor function, and the activations of ipsilateral motor cortex and both SMAs are closely interconnected in patients with CR infarct.
Insights
Mirror movements (MMs) are involuntary movements seen in 54.8% of stroke patients with corona radiata infarct. These MMs correlate with poor motor function and specific brain activation patterns.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Mirror movements (MMs) are involuntary movements.
- MMs occur in the unaffected limb during voluntary movement of the affected limb.
- Corona radiata (CR) infarct can affect motor pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate clinical characteristics of MMs in CR infarct patients.
- Examine cortical activation patterns associated with MMs using functional MRI.
- Determine the relationship between MMs, motor function, and brain activity.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 31 hemiparetic stroke patients with CR infarct.
- Utilized functional MRI to assess brain activation during hand movements.
- Observed MMs in the unaffected hand simultaneously with affected hand movements.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of MMs was 54.8% (17/31 patients).
- MM severity correlated with poor motor function and activation in unaffected motor cortex and supplementary motor areas (SMAs).
- Unaffected motor cortex and SMA activation linked to poor motor function.
Conclusions:
- MMs, poor motor function, and ipsilateral motor cortex/SMA activation are interconnected in CR infarct.
- Findings highlight the neural basis of MMs in stroke.
- Suggests potential targets for rehabilitation strategies.
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