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Assessment of Sensorimotor Function in Mouse Models of Parkinson's Disease
Published on: June 17, 2013
Investigation of sensorimotor dysfunction in Parkinson disease by resting-state fMRI
Shuaiwen Wang1, Yanli Zhang1, Junqiang Lei1
1Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China; Intelligent Imaging Medical Engineering Research Center of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China; Accurate Image Collaborative Innovation International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China.
Purpose:
Functional MRI has played a fundamental role in Parkinson's disease(PD) study. In this paper, we performed an independent component analysis (ICA) based on functional networks to reveal the intricate variations on the morphology and functional properties of brain. Our analysis aims at discovering the differences between PD patients with sensorimotor function impairment and normal controls(NC), thus helping to understand the coordination neurological function degeneration in PD objectively.
Method:
We investigated the blood oxygen level dependent(BOLD) functional MRI obtained at a 3.0 T MRI scanner. 30 PD patients and 28 NC subjects underwent the scan in resting state. The signals of sensory and motor coordinative control areas in the sensorimotor, insula and cerebellum networks acquired by ICA(Independent Component Analysis)were applied to analyze the functional alterations. Specifically, intra-network analysis was performed with signals in local networks, and inter-network analysis was conducted by functional network connectivity (FNC) with signals across different networks. Two sample T test was carried out to detect the significant (p < 0.05, FDR p < 0.05) functional abnormality in PD patients.
Conclusion:
We identified an obvious increase in bilateral posterior insula, but decrease in bilateral cerebellum hemisphere, supplementary motor area(SMA) and precentral gyrus paracentral lobule of left postcentral gyrus. Besides, we found a significantly increased connection between independent component (IC) 13 which was located in right postcentral gyrus and cerebellum. Decreased connections were detected between sensory and motor cortex in sensorimotor network and between cerebellum and insula network by FNC analysis in PD patients as well.
Discussion:
Parkinson's disease derives from the degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra, and results in decreased secretion of inhibitory neurotransmitter. The significant differences between PD and NC groups in our research maybe explain the clinical manifestations of prominent bradykinesia and multiple extrapyramidal symptoms.
Insights
Functional MRI reveals brain network differences in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients compared to normal controls (NC). These findings correlate with PD symptoms like bradykinesia and motor deficits.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Radiology
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) involves dopaminergic neuron degeneration.
- Functional MRI (fMRI) is crucial for studying PD's neurological effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify functional brain network differences between PD patients and normal controls (NC) using Independent Component Analysis (ICA).
- To understand the neurological basis of sensorimotor impairments in PD.
Main Methods:
- Resting-state fMRI data from 30 PD patients and 28 NC subjects.
- Independent Component Analysis (ICA) applied to sensorimotor, insula, and cerebellum networks.
- Intra-network and functional network connectivity (FNC) analyses, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05, FDR p < 0.05.
Main Results:
- Increased signal in the bilateral posterior insula.
- Decreased signal in the bilateral cerebellum, supplementary motor area (SMA), and left precentral gyrus.
- Altered functional connectivity: increased between right postcentral gyrus and cerebellum, decreased within the sensorimotor network and between cerebellum and insula networks.
Conclusions:
- Distinct functional brain alterations in PD patients, including changes in insula, cerebellum, and motor cortex.
- Altered network connectivity patterns observed in PD patients.
- These findings may explain clinical symptoms such as bradykinesia and extrapyramidal signs in Parkinson's disease.
