Resting state functional connectivity and task-related effective connectivity changes after upper extremity...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Stroke often results in upper limb paresis, impacting daily activities.
• Robot-aided virtual reality (VR) therapy offers a novel approach for motor rehabilitation.
• Understanding brain changes post-therapy is crucial for optimizing stroke recovery.

Observation:

• Two chronic stroke patients underwent 2 weeks of robot-aided VR therapy for their paretic upper limb.
• Brain activation was assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during rest and hand movement.
• Functional connectivity with the ipsilesional primary motor cortex (iM1) was analyzed.

Findings:

• Both subjects showed improvements in motor function tests (WMFT, JTHF) after therapy.
• Resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and task-related connectivity patterns showed similar directional changes.
• Connectivity between iM1 and contralesional M1 (cM1) showed divergent changes (decrease in one, increase in the other).

Implications:

• Robot-aided VR therapy can enhance motor function in stroke patients.
• rsFC may serve as a valuable biomarker for brain reorganization, especially in patients with limited volitional control.
• These findings support the use of neuroimaging to track recovery and tailor rehabilitation strategies.