Abstract
To explore alterations of resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in sensorimotor cortex following strokes with left or right hemiplegia considering the lateralization and neuroplasticity. Seventy-three resting-state functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) files were selected, including 26 from left hemiplegia (LH), 21 from right hemiplegia (RH) and 26 from normal controls (NC) group. Whole-brain analyses matching the Pearson correlation were used for rsFC calculations. For right-handed normal controls, rsFC of motor components (M1 and M2) in the left hemisphere displayed a prominent intensity in comparison with the right hemisphere (p < 0.05), while for stroke groups, this asymmetry has disappeared. Additionally, RH rather than LH showed stronger rsFC between left S1 and left M1 in contrast to normal controls (p < 0.05), which correlated inversely with motor function (r = − 0.53, p < 0.05). Regarding M1, rsFC within ipsi-lesioned M1 has a negative correlation with motor function of the affected limb (r = − 0.60 for the RH group and − 0.43 for the LH group, p < 0.05). The rsFC within contra-lesioned M1 that innervates the normal side was weakened compared with that of normal controls (p < 0.05). Stronger rsFC of motor components in left hemisphere was confirmed by rs-fNIRS as the “secret of dominance” for the first time, while post-stroke hemiplegia broke this cortical asymmetry. Meanwhile, a statistically strengthened rsFC between left S1 and M1 only in right-hemiplegia group may act as a compensation for the impairment of the dominant side. This research has implications for brain-computer interfaces synchronizing sensory feedback with motor performance and transcranial magnetic regulation for cortical excitability to induce cortical plasticity.
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Data Availability
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.81972154 and No.82172536).
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YS carried out the conception and design of the research, YS, ZS and YD participated in the acquisition of data. YS carried out the analysis and interpretation of data and statistical analysis. YW and WS participated in obtaining funding and technical support. YS drafted the manuscript and ML and J participated in revision of manuscript for important intellectual content. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Song, Y., Sun, Z., Sun, W. et al. Neuroplasticity Following Stroke from a Functional Laterality Perspective: A fNIRS Study. Brain Topogr 36, 283–293 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10548-023-00946-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10548-023-00946-z