Abstract
This study investigated the changes in the structural connectivity of the bilateral hemispheres over time following a middle cerebral artery infarction. Eighteen patients in the subacute group and nine patients in the chronic group with mild upper extremity motor impairment (Fugl-Meyer motor assessment score for the upper limb > 43) following middle cerebral artery infarction were retrospectively evaluated in this study. All the patients underwent T1-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging. Tract-based statistical analyses of fractional anisotropy were used to compare the changes in the bilateral structural connectivity with those of age-matched normal controls. The corticospinal tract pathway of the affected hemisphere, corpus callosum, and corona radiata of the unaffected hemisphere had decreased structural connectivity in the subacute group, while the motor association area and anterior corpus callosum in the bilateral frontal lobes had increased structural connectivity in the chronic group. The bilateral hemispheres were influenced even in patients with mild motor impairment following middle cerebral artery infarction, and the structural connectivity of the bilateral hemispheres changed according to the time following the stroke.
Highlights
Motor impairment is a common symptom following a stroke, which can reduce the quality of life
Cerebral damage after a stroke is followed by a certain degree of motor recovery, which contributes to neuronal reorganization [2,3]
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 384 patients who underwent diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) between May 2015 and May 2020
Summary
Motor impairment is a common symptom following a stroke, which can reduce the quality of life. In the subacute and chronic phase following a stroke, it shows a prevalence of. Cerebral damage after a stroke is followed by a certain degree of motor recovery, which contributes to neuronal reorganization [2,3]. This neuronal reorganization may be managed by a number of rehabilitative treatments, including physical therapy, non-invasive brain stimulation, and pharmacological agents [3,4]. Understanding neuronal reorganization could help target treatment and promote motor recovery following a stroke. Since the tools available for studying the reorganization of the human brain are very different from those available in animals, the reorganization process following a stroke is still unclear in humans
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
