Neuroplastic changes in resting-state functional connectivity after stroke rehabilitation

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Neuroimaging research often focuses on natural stroke recovery.
• Resting-state functional connectivity (RS-FC) mapping is promising for studying treatment-induced neuroplasticity.
• Robot-assisted bilateral arm therapy (RBAT) is a potential intervention for stroke recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate changes in resting-state functional connectivity (RS-FC) of the ipsilesional primary motor cortex (M1) after robot-assisted bilateral arm therapy (RBAT).
• To explore the relationship between RS-FC changes and motor/functional recovery in post-acute stroke patients.

Main Methods:

• 10 post-acute stroke patients underwent 4 weeks of RBAT.
• Resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) was used to assess M1 connectivity before and after therapy.
• Motor performance and functional abilities were evaluated.

Main Results:

• All participants showed improvements in motor performance, arm use, and daily function.
• Pre-treatment showed reduced interhemispheric M1-M1 RS-FC.
• Post-RBAT revealed increased M1-M1 functional connectivity and altered resting-state networks.
• Increased M1-M1 RS-FC changes correlated with better motor and functional recovery.
• M1-M1 RS-FC changes mediated the relationship between motor and functional recovery.

Conclusions:

• RBAT induces neuroplastic changes and functional recovery in post-acute stroke survivors.
• Interhemispheric functional connectivity in the motor cortex may serve as a neurobiological marker for stroke rehabilitation outcomes.