Can motion capture improve task-based fMRI studies of motor function post-stroke? A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Variability in motor recovery after stroke poses challenges for understanding and management.
• Functional MRI (fMRI) has elucidated brain-behavior links but cannot solely clarify brain activation-movement characteristic relationships.
• Integrating fMRI with kinematic analysis is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of motor function post-stroke.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and identify approaches for coupling fMRI and kinematic data.
• To evaluate the contribution of these coupled approaches to understanding post-stroke motor function.
• To explore cortico-kinematic relationships in stroke recovery.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted.
• Studies involving fMRI and kinematics in post-stroke individuals were identified and assessed for validity.
• Data extraction focused on study design and analysis methods for coupling brain activity with movement characteristics.

Main Results:

• Twenty-three studies were included, with moderate overall quality.
• Kinematic data were used parallel to fMRI or as real-time feedback (13 studies).
• Statistical analysis linked brain activity and movement, revealing relationships like ipsilesional Premotor Cortex activity with less smooth movements and contralesional Primary Motor Cortex activity with trunk compensation.

Conclusions:

• Coupling fMRI and kinematics provides valuable insights into cortico-kinematic relationships post-stroke.
• Standardization of data measurement and treatment procedures is recommended to maximize the potential of multimodal integration.
• This integration is key to unraveling the complexity of post-stroke motor function and recovery.