Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
06:37
Electroencephalography Network Indices as Biomarkers of Upper Limb Impairment in Chronic Stroke
Published on: July 14, 2023
Topological Alterations of Functional Brain Networks in Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment: a Graph-Theoretical Study
Pahati Tuxunjiang1, Ainikaerjiang Aihemaiti1, Yimuran Subi1
1Department of radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Ürümqi, China.
Clinical Neuroradiology
|June 10, 2026
Summary
Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) shows altered brain network topology, impacting information processing. These network changes correlate with cognitive deficits, offering imaging insights into PSCI mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Radiology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a common complication of ischemic stroke.
- Understanding the neural mechanisms of PSCI is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate topological alterations in functional brain networks of patients with PSCI using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).
- To explore the relationship between brain network organization and cognitive performance in post-stroke patients.
Main Methods:
- Prospective enrollment of 45 ischemic stroke patients (21 PSCI, 24 non-cognitive impairment) and 30 healthy controls.
- rs-fMRI scans and cognitive function assessments (MoCA, MMSE) were performed on all participants.
- Comparative analyses of global and nodal topological metrics and correlation analyses between network properties and cognitive scores were conducted.
Main Results:
- Both PSCI and non-cognitive impairment groups showed altered functional brain network topology compared to controls, including increased characteristic path length and reduced global and local efficiency.
- No significant differences in global network metrics were found between PSCI and non-cognitive impairment groups.
- In PSCI patients, local network efficiency and small-worldness positively correlated with MoCA scores, while clustering coefficient negatively correlated with MMSE scores in the non-cognitive impairment group.
Conclusions:
- Functional brain networks in PSCI patients exhibit altered global and nodal topological properties, indicating impaired information transmission and integration.
- These network abnormalities are linked to cognitive dysfunction, providing imaging-based insights into the neural mechanisms of PSCI.
