Brain functional network abnormality extends beyond the sensorimotor network in brachial plexus injury patients

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Brachial plexus injury (BPI) is a severe peripheral nerve trauma.
• Functional MRI studies show BPI causes central brain remodeling, primarily in sensorimotor areas.
• The extent of large-scale functional remodeling in BPI remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate higher-level brain functional abnormalities in BPI patients using large-scale network connectivity.
• To explore the pattern of functional remodeling beyond sensorimotor networks in BPI.
• To correlate brain network alterations with residual limb function in BPI patients.

Main Methods:

• Resting-state functional MRI data were collected from 15 right-handed BPI patients and healthy controls.
• Independent component analysis (ICA) was employed to analyze functional MRI data.
• Functional connectivity was compared between patient and control groups, and correlated with clinical data.

Main Results:

• BPI patients exhibited altered functional activities in the fronto-parietal network (FPN), sensorimotor network (SMN), and executive-control network (ECN).
• Significantly reduced functional connectivity was observed between SMN and ECN, and between SMN and the right FPN in BPI patients.
• Connectivity strength between ECN and SMN negatively correlated with residual limb function; ECN-DMN connectivity was increased in patients.

Conclusions:

• Brain functional disturbance in BPI extends beyond the SMN, involving widespread network remodeling.
• Altered functional connectivity in higher-level networks correlates with residual limb function.
• Functional remodeling in these networks may contribute to cognitive deficits in BPI patients.