Neuroscience 2005 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 358.4 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Functional and structural plasticity in the somatosensory cortex of chronic stroke patients. |
| Authors: |
Schaechter, J. D.*1
; Moore, C. I.2
; Connell, B. D.1
; Dijkhuizen, R. M.3
1Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 2MA, Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, 02129, 3USA, Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, 02129, |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Disorders of the Nervous System - Ischemia -- Human studies and animal models |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | Sensory and Motor Systems<br />- Tactile/Somatosensory<br />-- Thalamus and Cortex |
| Session: |
358. Ischemia: Human Studies Slide |
| Presentation Time: | Monday, November 14, 2005 8:45 AM-9:00 AM |
| Location: | Washington Convention Center - Room 150B |
| Keywords: | FMRI, TACTILE, CORTICAL PLASTICITY, MORPHOMETRY |
Animal studies have shown that motor skill learning and sensorimotor skill reacquisition after experimental stroke are associated with functional and structural changes in the affected-limb representation in sensorimotor cortex. While studies in stroke patients have demonstrated functional plasticity of the paretic limb representation in sensorimotor cortex, no study has examined whether structural remodeling also occurs. Therefore, 9 chronic stroke patients with a range of residual right-sided upper limb paresis and 9 age- and gender-matched normal controls underwent functional and structural MRI to evaluate for functional and structural plasticity, respectively. Functional MRI was conducted during unilateral punctate tactile stimulation to the middle finger. MRI data were analyzed using cortical surface-based tools including an automated procedure for measuring cortical thickness. Activation during right (affected side of patients) finger stimulation was greater (p < 0.025) in patients as compared to controls in an area of the left primary somatosensory cortex (S1) located ventral to the hand region. This ventral S1 area traversed areas 3b, 1 and 2. Activation during left (unaffected side of patients) finger stimulation was greater (p < 0.01) in patients as compared to controls in area 1 of the right ventral S1. Among the areas exhibiting an increase in activation in patients relative to controls, area 3b of the left ventral S1 also exhibited an increase (p < 0.05) in cortical thickness. Further, in the patients, there was a positive correlation (r = 0.75, p < 0.025) between activation and thickness in area 3b of the left ventral S1. These results provide the first evidence of a focal area in S1 with co-localized functional and structural plasticity in chronic stroke patients, and other S1 areas exhibiting functional plasticity exclusively. These plastic changes may be a consequence of stroke and/or post-stroke sensorimotor skill recovery.
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2005 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2005. Online.
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