Abstract TP152: Sensory Function Improvement is Related to White Matter Changes During Rehabilitation

Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Soha Sadeghikhah ◽  
Margaret Skelly ◽  
Jessica McCabe ◽  
Ahlam Salameh ◽  
Svetlana Pundik
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Chronic Stroke ◽  
Sensory Function ◽  
Linear Modeling ◽  
Subcortical Region ◽  
Sensory Recovery ◽  
Occipital Pole ◽  
Sensory Acuity

Objective: Structural changes related to recovery of sensory function are not well understood. Previously, we demonstrated a relationship between improved sensory function and increased cortical thickness in ipsilesional occipitoparietal and contralesional temporoparietal areas following rehabilitation of patients with chronic stroke(Pundik et al, 2018). The objective of the current work was to evaluate changes in white matter (WM) tracts originating in these cortical regions where thickness changes were related to enhanced sensory function after rehabilitation in chronic stroke. Methods: Chronic stroke survivors (n=18) received 12 weeks of upper limb sensory-motor rehabilitation. Outcome measures were sensory acuity (monofilament test, a sum over 9 locations on the hand; best score 25.47) and DTI measures of diffusivity [mean (MD), radial (RD), axial (AD)] and fractional anisotropy (FA). DTI analysis included: probabilistic tractography from seeds where cortical thickness changes correlated with sensory recovery, creation of a group-based tract by combining individual tracts, tract-based analysis using Spearman correlation, significance at p<0.05 with Bonferroni correction, and voxel-based analysis permutation inference for general linear modeling. Results: Subjects were 53.9±12.1 years old, 1.9±1.2 years after stroke and 27.8% female. Monofilament score improved from 46.6±13.1 to 43.9±12.9. Improved sensory acuity correlated with increased AD (rho=0.69, p=0.002), RD (rho=0.59, p=0.0093) and MD (rho=0.63, p=0.005) in the tract originating in the ipsilesional occipital pole. Voxel-based analysis between changes in MD and in monofilament identified a statistically significant cluster (family-wise error corrected p=0.03) within a subcortical region of the tract originating in the ipsilesional occipital pole. Conclusion: Improved sensory acuity after rehabilitation was related to DTI-measured microstructural changes in WM tracts. These findings further support the notion of structural plasticity associated with sensory function improvement during rehabilitation in chronic stroke.

Abstract 1: Improvement of Sensory Function Following Rehabilitation in Chronic Stroke Is Associated With Increased Cortical Thickness

Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Svetlana Pundik ◽  
Aleca Scoco ◽  
Margaret Skelly ◽  
Jessica McCabe ◽  
Janis J Daly
Keyword(s):  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Chronic Stroke ◽  
Sensory Function ◽  
Middle Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Middle Temporal ◽  
Sensory Recovery ◽  
Cortical Regions ◽  
Sensory Acuity

Introduction: Loss of somatosensory function after stroke weakens the ability to adequately relate to our environment, thus significantly reduces quality of life. Neuroplastic processes of sensory recovery are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to identify cortical regions that undergo structural changes (measured by change in cortical thickness (CT)) during sensory recovery. The hypothesis was that for subjects who improve sensory acuity, CT change in regions of the bilateral sensory network correlates with change in sensory acuity. Methods: Chronic stroke survivors were treated with 12-weeks rehabilitation. Outcome measures were sensory acuity (monofilament), Fugl-Meyer upper limb coordination and CT (T1 Magnetic Resonance Imaging). CT change was calculated based on T1 images using Freesurfer longitudinal processing stream. General linear regression modeling identified cortical regions where change in CT was associated with change in sensory acuity after controlling for baseline sensory impairment and change in motor function. Cluster-wise correction for multiple comparisons was conducted using Monte-Carlo simulation at p<0.05. Results: Subjects, who improved in sensory acuity (n=18), were 55.8±13.7 year old; 10% female; 1.8±0.9 years after first ever stroke. Acuity improved from 43.9±14mm to 40.53±13mm (p=0.004). FM improved from 22.4±8 to 34.5±10 (p<0.0001). For the ipsilesional hemisphere, CT increase correlated with sensory improvement in lateral occipital gyrus (size=1543mm2; peak vertex coordinates in MNI space x=-10.9, y=-97, z=10.9, cluster wise p=0.0002) and in middle temporal gyrus (795mm2, x=-57.2, y=-56.5,z=0.9, p=0.002). For the contralesional hemisphere, increased CT was associated with improved monofilament acuity within supramarginal gyrus (930mm2 ; x=47.2, y=-43.0, z=43.2, p=0.0002) and middle temporal gyrus (974mm2; x=53.5, y=-59.6, z=-1.7; p= 0.0001). Conclusion: Rehabilitation produces modality-specific structural brain changes that can be measured by changes in cortical thickness. Improved sensation correlates with increased thickness in bilateral high-order association sensory cortices reflecting a complex nature of sensory rehabilitation.

Greater Cortical Thickness Is Associated With Enhanced Sensory Function After Arm Rehabilitation in Chronic Stroke

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 590-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svetlana Pundik ◽  
Aleka Scoco ◽  
Margaret Skelly ◽  
Jessica P. McCabe ◽  
Janis J. Daly
Keyword(s):  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Posterior Parietal Cortex ◽  
Occipital Cortex ◽  
Chronic Stroke ◽  
Sensory Function ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Sensory Recovery ◽  
Sensory Acuity

Objective. Somatosensory function is critical to normal motor control. After stroke, dysfunction of the sensory systems prevents normal motor function and degrades quality of life. Structural neuroplasticity underpinnings of sensory recovery after stroke are not fully understood. The objective of this study was to identify changes in bilateral cortical thickness (CT) that may drive recovery of sensory acuity. Methods. Chronic stroke survivors (n = 20) were treated with 12 weeks of rehabilitation. Measures were sensory acuity (monofilament), Fugl-Meyer upper limb and CT change. Permutation-based general linear regression modeling identified cortical regions in which change in CT was associated with change in sensory acuity. Results. For the ipsilesional hemisphere in response to treatment, CT increase was significantly associated with sensory improvement in the area encompassing the occipital pole, lateral occipital cortex (inferior and superior divisions), intracalcarine cortex, cuneal cortex, precuneus cortex, inferior temporal gyrus, occipital fusiform gyrus, supracalcarine cortex, and temporal occipital fusiform cortex. For the contralesional hemisphere, increased CT was associated with improved sensory acuity within the posterior parietal cortex that included supramarginal and angular gyri. Following upper limb therapy, monofilament test score changed from 45.0 ± 13.3 to 42.6 ± 12.9 mm ( P = .063) and Fugl-Meyer score changed from 22.1 ± 7.8 to 32.3 ± 10.1 ( P < .001). Conclusions. Rehabilitation in the chronic stage after stroke produced structural brain changes that were strongly associated with enhanced sensory acuity. Improved sensory perception was associated with increased CT in bilateral high-order association sensory cortices reflecting the complex nature of sensory function and recovery in response to rehabilitation.

scholarly journals M55. STRUCTURAL CHANGES RELEVANT TO MUSICAL DEFICITS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S155-S155
Author(s):  
Ken Sawada ◽  
Yoshiki Akagawa ◽  
William Honer
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Musical Training ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Musical Ability

Abstract Background Music is a shared experience in human culture. The ability to perceive, enjoy, and produce music is closely related to a fundamental element of human cognition. We previously reported that patients with schizophrenia have musical disability compared to healthy comparison. Several replications have shown that patients with schizophrenia have low musical ability that correlates with poor cognitive functions and severe psychiatric symptoms. We also reported that thinner cortical thickness in the left temporal, parietal, and inferior frontal regions is associated with lower musical ability in schizophrenia. Next, we sought to investigate diffusion tensor images (DTI) and local gyrification index (LGI) in patients with schizophrenia. Methods Twenty-two right-handed patients with schizophrenia (12 males and 10 females, mean age = 45.9 years) and 20 right-handed healthy control subjects (13 males and 7 females, mean age = 42.8 years) consented to participate in this study. We measured musical ability, cognitive functions, and clinical assessments using the Montreal Battery for Evaluation of Amusia (MBEA), Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), respectively. We employed automatic probabilistic tractography DTI analysis using TRActs Constrained by UnderLying Anatomy (TRACULA) available in the Freesurfer software for the reconstruction of major tract bundles. The LGI was measured by quantifying the gyrification in spherical three-dimensional regions of interest by the Freesurfer. Results Whole-tract diffusion characteristics in patients with schizophrenia and controls were significantly different. Fractional anisotropy (FA) was lower for patients with schizophrenia compared to controls in the left superior longitudinal fasciculus - parietal endings (slfp) (p &lt; 0.001), left cingulum - angular bundle (cab) (p &lt; 0.001), and corpus callosum - forceps minor (fminor) (p &lt; 0.001). We found significant correlation between musical abilities and FA alterations in slfp in both controls and patients with schizophrenia. While lower musical ability corresponds to lower FA in slfp of controls (r = -0.572, p = 0.013), it is associated with higher FA in the slfp of patients with schizophrenia (r = 0.515, p = 0.021). We did not reveal any significant correlation of musical ability to LGI in patients with schizophrenia. In controls, the correlation of musical ability to LGI in parahippocampal region after adjusting for age, sex, and years of musical training. Discussion This study shows that TRACULA can be used for the detection of decrements in several DTI tracts including the left slfp, left cab, and fminor in patients with schizophrenia. It revealed that while lower musical ability correlates with lower FA values in the left slfp in controls, it is associated with higher FA values in the same region in patients with schizophrenia. This contradictory finding in controls and patients with schizophrenia with regard to white matter pathology may reflect left supramarginal region malfunction resulting in cortical pathology in patients with schizophrenia. The data suggest that patients with schizophrenia may be more susceptible to changes in cortical thickness in the supramarginal region, and white matter alteration in the left slfp. Further study is needed to confirm the results. The characteristics of grey and white matter in the left parietal region which are relevant to musical ability may provide insight into pathological progression in patients with schizophrenia.

scholarly journals A-06 MRI and Neuropsychological Change During Conversion from Normal/MCI to Alzheimer’s Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 796-796
Author(s):  
Paredes J ◽  
Prince T ◽  
Simpson A ◽  
Daniel M
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Significant Change ◽  
Normal Cognition

Abstract Objective Analyze neurocognitive and structural brain changes associated with conversion from normal cognition/MCI to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Method Thirty-two participants from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center included 22 women; mean (SD): age = 77.06 (8.1); education = 14.59 (3.5). All had either normal cognition or MCI at first visit when MRI was obtained and were diagnosed with AD at follow-up MRI; mean time between MRI’s = 4.1 years. Imaging of Dementia & Aging lab performed calculations for MRI structural change using Linux-based software. Participants took neuropsychological tests within three months of each MRI visit. Results MRI structural degeneration occurred in: left (d = .46) and right (d = .47) entorhinal cortical thickness; left (d = .82) and right (d = .95) hippocampal volume; left (d = .74) and right (d = .43) middle temporal gray matter volume; left parahippocampal cortical thickness (d = .55); total white matter volume (d = .55); total brain volume (d = .78); and total CSF volume (d = 1.14). Significant neuropsychological decline included Animal fluency (d = 1.02), Vegetable fluency (d = .69), Digit Symbol (d = .53), Trails B (d = .42), and Digit Span Backward (d = .56). There was not a significant change in Logical Memory. Conclusions Participants who converted from normal cognition/MCI to AD showed MRI degeneration in medial temporal structures as well as generalized atrophy and white matter loss. These structural changes accompanied a significant decline in semantic verbal fluency, working memory, and processing speed. There was not a significant change in verbal memory.

scholarly journals Self-modulation of motor cortex activity after stroke alters behavior and corticospinal tract structure: a randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeena-Britt Sanders ◽  
Melanie K Fleming ◽  
Tom Smejka ◽  
Marilien C Marzolla ◽  
Catharina Zich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Motor Performance ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Corticospinal Tract ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Chronic Stroke ◽  
Stroke Survivors

Real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neurofeedback allows individuals to self-modulate their ongoing brain activity. This may be a useful tool in clinical disorders which are associated with altered brain activity patterns. Motor impairment after stroke has previously been associated with decreased laterality of motor cortex activity. Here we examined whether chronic stroke survivors were able to use real-time fMRI neurofeedback to increase laterality of motor cortex activity and assessed effects on motor performance and on brain structure and function. We carried out a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial in which 24 chronic stroke survivors with mild to moderate upper limb impairment experienced three training days of either Real (n=12) or Sham (n=12) neurofeedback. Stroke survivors were able to use Real neurofeedback to increase laterality of motor cortex activity within, but not across, training days. Improvement in gross hand motor performance assessed by the Jebsen Taylor Test (JTT) was observed in the Real neurofeedback group compared to Sham. However, there were no improvements on the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) or the Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer (UE-FM) score. Additionally, decreased white-matter asymmetry of the corticospinal tracts was detected 1-week after neurofeedback training, indicating that the tracts become more similar with Real neurofeedback. Changes in the affected corticospinal tract was positively correlated with neurofeedback performance. Therefore, here we demonstrate that chronic stroke survivors are able to use fMRI neurofeedback to self-modulate motor cortex activity, and that training is associated with improvements in hand motor performance and with white matter structural changes.

Individual differences in white and grey matter structure associated with verbal habits of thought

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin C. Hayes ◽  
Katherine L Alfred ◽  
Rachel Pizzie ◽  
Joshua S. Cetron ◽  
David J. M. Kraemer
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Self Report ◽  
White Matter Tracts

Modality specific encoding habits account for a significant portion of individual differences reflected in functional activation during cognitive processing. Yet, little is known about how these habits of thought influence long-term structural changes in the brain. Traditionally, habits of thought have been assessed using self-report questionnaires such as the visualizer-verbalizer questionnaire. Here, rather than relying on subjective reports, we measured habits of thought using a novel behavioral task assessing attentional biases toward picture and word stimuli. Hypothesizing that verbal habits of thought are reflected in the structural integrity of white matter tracts and cortical regions of interest, we used diffusion tensor imaging and volumetric analyses to assess this prediction. Using a whole-brain approach, we show that word bias is associated with increased volume in several bilateral language regions, in both white and grey matter parcels. Additionally, connectivity within white matter tracts within an a priori speech production network increased as a function of word bias. These results demonstrate long-term structural and morphological differences associated with verbal habits of thought.

scholarly journals Author Correction: The development of white matter structural changes during the process of deterioration of the visual field

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shir Hofstetter ◽  
Norman Sabbah ◽  
Saddek Mohand-Saïd ◽  
José-Alain Sahel ◽  
Christophe Habas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Visual Field ◽  
Structural Changes

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

scholarly journals Infratentorial pathology in frontotemporal dementia: cerebellar grey and white matter alterations in FTD phenotypes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Clare McKenna ◽  
Rangariroyashe H. Chipika ◽  
Stacey Li Hi Shing ◽  
Foteini Christidi ◽  
Jasmin Lope ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Fractional Anisotropy ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Cerebellar Atrophy ◽  
Primary Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Radial Diffusivity ◽  
Axial Diffusivity ◽  
Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Primary Progressive ◽  
Crus I

AbstractThe contribution of cerebellar pathology to cognitive and behavioural manifestations is increasingly recognised, but the cerebellar profiles of FTD phenotypes are relatively poorly characterised. A prospective, single-centre imaging study has been undertaken with a high-resolution structural and diffusion tensor protocol to systematically evaluate cerebellar grey and white matter alterations in behavioural-variant FTD(bvFTD), non-fluent variant primary progressive aphasia(nfvPPA), semantic-variant primary progressive aphasia(svPPA), C9orf72-positive ALS-FTD(C9 + ALSFTD) and C9orf72-negative ALS-FTD(C9-ALSFTD). Cerebellar cortical thickness and complementary morphometric analyses were carried out to appraise atrophy patterns controlling for demographic variables. White matter integrity was assessed in a study-specific white matter skeleton, evaluating three diffusivity metrics: fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD). Significant cortical thickness reductions were identified in: lobule VII and crus I in bvFTD; lobule VI VII, crus I and II in nfvPPA; and lobule VII, crus I and II in svPPA; lobule IV, VI, VII and Crus I and II in C9 + ALSFTD. Morphometry revealed volume reductions in lobule V in all groups; in addition to lobule VIII in C9 + ALSFTD; lobule VI, VIII and vermis in C9-ALSFTD; lobule V, VII and vermis in bvFTD; and lobule V, VI, VIII and vermis in nfvPPA. Widespread white matter alterations were demonstrated by significant fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity and radial diffusivity changes in each FTD phenotype that were more focal in those with C9 + ALSFTD and svPPA. Our findings indicate that FTD subtypes are associated with phenotype-specific cerebellar signatures with the selective involvement of specific lobules instead of global cerebellar atrophy.

scholarly journals White matter integrity of contralesional and transcallosal tracts may predict response to upper limb task-specific training in chronic stroke

2021 ◽  
pp. 102710
Author(s):  
Daniela J.S. Mattos ◽  
Jerrel Rutlin ◽  
Xin Hong ◽  
Joshua S. Shimony ◽  
Alexandre R. Carter
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Chronic Stroke ◽  
White Matter Integrity ◽  
Specific Training

scholarly journals Regional Associations of Cortical Thickness With Gait Variability: The Tasmanian Study of Cognition and Gait

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 232-233
Author(s):  
Oshadi Jayakody ◽  
Monique Breslin ◽  
Richard Beare ◽  
Velandai Srikanth ◽  
Helena Blumen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Gait Variability ◽  
Thickness Ratio ◽  
Sensory Function ◽  
Time Variability ◽  
Step Width ◽  
Time Step ◽  
Cortical Regions ◽  
Regional Associations

Abstract Gait variability is a marker of cognitive decline. However, there is limited understanding of the cortical regions associated with gait variability. We examined associations between regional cortical thickness and gait variability in a population-based sample of older people without dementia. Participants (n=350, mean age 71.9±7.1) were randomly selected from the electoral roll. Variability in step time, step length, step width and double support time (DST) were calculated as the standard deviation of each measure, obtained from the GAITRite walkway. MRI scans were processed through FreeSurfer to obtain cortical thickness of 68 regions. Bayesian regression was used to determine regional associations of mean cortical thickness and thickness ratio (regional thickness/overall mean thickness) with gait variability. Smaller overall cortical thickness was only associated with greater step width and step time variability. Smaller mean thickness in widespread regions important for sensory, cognitive and motor functions were associated with greater step width and step time variability. In contrast, smaller thickness in a few frontal and temporal regions were associated with DST variability and the right cuneus was associated with step length variability. Smaller thickness ratio in frontal and temporal regions important for motor planning, execution and sensory function and, greater thickness ratio in the anterior cingulate was associated with greater variability in all measures. Examining individual cortical regions is important in understanding the relationship between gray matter and gait variability. Cortical thickness ratio highlights that smaller regional thickness relative to global thickness may be important for the consistency of gait.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document