Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Reverses Stroke-Induced Network Alterations in Mice

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Stroke lesions disrupt widespread brain networks, not just focal areas.
• Understanding network alterations is crucial for effective stroke rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate if transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) modifies stroke-induced network changes.
• Determine if functional network parameters predict tDCS therapeutic efficacy in a mouse stroke model.

Main Methods:

• Focal photothrombotic stroke induced in male C57Bl/6J mice.
• Cathodal tDCS applied over 10 days post-stroke.
• Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) assessed functional connectivity and network integration parameters up to 28 days.

Main Results:

• Ischemia caused a subacute increase in connectivity and reduced characteristic path length.
• tDCS reversed these network changes by day 10.
• Pre-stroke network configuration and early post-stroke network alterations predicted motor recovery.

Conclusions:

• Stroke induces detectable brain-wide network changes.
• tDCS can partially reverse these stroke-induced network alterations.
• Pre-insult and early post-insult network states are predictive of motor recovery and response to tDCS.