Identifying Resting-State Functional Connectivity Changes in the Motor Cortex Using fNIRS During Recovery from...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Resting-state functional imaging studies brain reorganization.
• Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) assesses resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC).

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify differences in rsFC patterns during upper-limb motor deficit recovery post-stroke.
• To investigate longitudinal changes in rsFC during stroke recovery.

Main Methods:

• fNIRS signals recorded bilaterally over motor and premotor areas.
• Pearson Correlation computed rsFC for healthy and patient groups.
• Longitudinal data analysis of rsFC changes over time.

Main Results:

• Healthy individuals exhibited stronger intra- and inter-hemispheric connections.
• Stroke patients displayed altered rsFC patterns compared to healthy controls.
• Left-hemisphere affected patients showed disrupted ipsilesional and increased contralesional connectivity.
• Longitudinal analysis indicated improved ipsilesional connectivity between motor and premotor areas during recovery.

Conclusions:

• rsFC analysis reveals significant changes in brain connectivity post-stroke.
• Improving rsFC patterns correlate with motor recovery during the subacute phase.
• Future rsFC monitoring may predict stroke motor deficit recovery extent.