Post-stroke sensory hypersensitivity: insights from lesion-symptom and disconnection mapping

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Acquired brain injury, particularly stroke, often leads to increased sensory sensitivity.
• The neural mechanisms underlying post-stroke sensory hypersensitivity remain poorly understood.
• Stroke lesions offer a unique opportunity to investigate the neuroanatomy of sensory changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the specific brain lesion locations and white matter tracts associated with sensory hypersensitivity in stroke survivors.
• To elucidate the neuroanatomical basis of post-stroke sensory hypersensitivity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized multivariate support vector regression lesion-symptom mapping.
• Employed indirect structural disconnection mapping to analyze white matter tracts.
• Included 103 stroke survivors, assessing sensory hypersensitivity across modalities.

Main Results:

• Nearly half (47%) of stroke patients reported sensory hypersensitivity.
• Key grey matter areas implicated include the putamen, thalamus, amygdala, and insula.
• Involved white matter tracts include fronto-insular and fronto-striatal pathways.

Conclusions:

• This study advances the understanding of the neural underpinnings of post-stroke sensory hypersensitivity.
• Identified specific grey and white matter structures critical for sensory processing after stroke.
• Provides a neuroanatomical framework for future research and potential therapeutic targets.