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Functional neuroimaging of dressing-related skills

Brain Imaging and Behavior volume 8, pages 335–345 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Restoration of motor function following stroke involves reorganization of motor output through intact pathways, with compensatory brain activity likely variable by task. One class of motor tasks, those involved in self-care, is particularly important in stroke rehabilitation. Identifying the brain areas that are engaged in self-care and how they reorganize after stroke may enable development of more effective rehabilitation strategies. We piloted a paradigm for functional MRI assessment of self-care activity. In two groups, young adults and older adults, two self-care tasks (buttoning and zipping) produce activation similar to a bimanual tapping task, with bilateral activation of primary and secondary motor cortices, primary sensory cortex, and cerebellum. Quantitative differences include more activation of sensorimotor cortex and cerebellum in buttoning than bimanual tapping. Pilot subjects with stroke showed greater superior parietal activity across tasks than controls, potentially representing an increased need for sensorimotor integration to perform motor tasks.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Robert Kraft, Paul Laurienti, Lumi Sawaki, and Todd Atwood for invaluable assistance. Dr. Wittenberg is now on Extended Educational Leave from his position as Staff Physician in the Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Maryland Health Care System, and on sabbatical from his position as Associate Professor in Neurology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Dept. of Kinesiology of KU Leuven, Belgium. Mr. Foster is a Principal Research Associate with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge, MA, USA, and Dr. Lovelace an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV, USA.

Grants

This work was funded by a Scientist Development Grant #0230258N to G.F.W. from the American Heart Association. Continued analysis was supported by the Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center of the VA Maryland Health Care System and was completed while the G.F.W. was a Senior Fellow at KU Leuven.

Disclosures

The authors have nothing to disclose.

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Author notes

  1. George F. Wittenberg

    Present address: KU Leuven Department of Kinesiology, Tervuursevest 101 - bus 1501, 3001, Heverlee, Belgium

Affiliations

  1. Program in Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Program & Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    George F. Wittenberg, Christopher T. Lovelace & Donald J. Foster

  2. Department of Psychology, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV, USA

    Christopher T. Lovelace

  3. Radiologic Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    Joseph A. Maldjian

  4. Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System, and Department of Neurology, University of Maryland, 655 W Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD, 21201-1509, USA

    George F. Wittenberg

Authors
  1. George F. Wittenberg
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  2. Christopher T. Lovelace
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  3. Donald J. Foster
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  4. Joseph A. Maldjian
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Correspondence to George F. Wittenberg.

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Wittenberg, G.F., Lovelace, C.T., Foster, D.J. et al. Functional neuroimaging of dressing-related skills. Brain Imaging and Behavior 8, 335–345 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-012-9204-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-012-9204-1

Keywords

  • Functional MRI
  • Rehabilitation
  • Motor systems
  • Stroke
  • Aging