Whole-brain functional connectivity and structural network properties in stroke patients with hemiplegia

Objective: This study explored structural and functional alterations in the whole brain of stroke patients with hemiplegia.

Methods: We collected multimodal magnetic resonance images of 24 patients with ischaemic stroke and 16 age-matched controls. Resting-state functional connectivity (FC) for all brain regions was evaluated. Diffusion tensor imaging was used to construct white matter structural networks, and the graph properties of the structural network were analysed using graph theory to determine group differences.

Results: The ipsilesional posterior parietal cortex (PPC) in the frontoparietal network accounts for more than half of the 25 brain regions with altered FC in stroke patients. The nodal efficiency of multiple ipsilesional frontal lobes and cerebellar regions, such as the ipsilateral cerebellum 8, was reduced. The contralesional cerebellum 8 showed elevated FC with the lingual gyrus and the visual network.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that the PPC and cerebellum 8 are regions worthy of in-depth study. The cerebellum 8 may supplement deficits in motor balance function by enhancing functional congruence with the visual area.

Significance: This study identified key brain regions and characteristics that exhibit structural and functional changes following stroke injury.